Magdalen Chapel, 41 Cowgate, Edinburgh

This is a rectangular-plan almshouse chapel, originally built between 1541 and 1544 by John Tailefer, a mason, and Robert Wilson, a wright. Later alterations and additions were made, including work by Richard Crichton in 1816. A chapel is concealed behind the 1816 frontage. The building features a five-stage square-plan tower with a spire, dating from 1620 to 1625.

The north elevation has two projecting bays built of droved ashlar, added in 1816-17. The bay to the left contains a committee room and is wider. It features a base course, paired lancet windows with flat-headed hoodmouldings on the ground and first floors (round-arched on the ground floor), and a crenellated parapet with gablets. A recessed central bay has cast-iron railings and a gate leading to a two-leaf timber panelled door within a chamfered round-arched surround. Above the door is an entablature with an inscription panel and a pedimented aedicule supported by scrolled brackets, containing a heraldic panel displaying the arms of the donors, their initials, the crowned hammer of the Hammermen, and the date 1553. There are paired round-arched windows above.

The tower is constructed of coursed ashlar on the north side and the top stage, with rubble elsewhere. String courses separate the stages. Louvred openings with chamfered surrounds are present on each side of the top stage (a clock face is on the north side, and a sundial is above the west window). The crenellated parapet has chequer-set corbelling and two cannon-spouts on each face. The spire is octagonal, lead-covered, and topped with a gilt globe finial and weathercock.

Inside, a 16th-century entrance to the chapel is from a vestibule, featuring three uncarved shields on the lintel. A curved stone staircase with decorative cast-iron balusters and a veneered handrail is located on the left. The rectangular, barrel-vaulted chapel has a shallow step between the east end and the nave. A curved wrought-iron railing defines the chancel, incorporating the Hammermen's insignia (dated 1725). Two tiers of high-backed seats are positioned behind the chancel (made by William Eizat, 1725). The lower tier is painted with swagged chains bearing the arms of the trades forming the Incorporation of Hammermen (painted by Alexander Boswall). Three windows line the south side. The central window contains four roundels of heraldic stained glass, depicting the Royal Arms of Scotland and the arms of Mary of Guise above, and the arms of MacQueen and MacQueen impaling Kerr below. Arcaded panelling along the east and north walls displays gilded inscriptions detailing benefactions (likely repainted in 1813). A square painted panel on the west wall, dated 1624, features a raised crowned hammer and an inscription "LORD BLES THE HAMMERMEN PATRONS OF THIS HOSPITAL."