each formed of curb link chain with variable size barrel locking mechanism (No keys), the front panel section inset in brass and inscribed ‘Sir William Forbes Bart, Collington House’ and ‘John Forbes Esq. Colinton House’ (18cm diameter) Provenance: Colinton House Edinburgh (now part of Merchiston Castle School). Note: The house was built for Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo who bought the Colinton Castle estate from the Foulis family in 1790. Sir William Forbes (1739-1806) was one of the most important men in eighteenth century Edinburgh. He was an extremely successful banker, becoming a partner of Coutt's bank at the age of 22, and head of the banking firm Forbes, Hunter and Co. twelve years later. He also was an extremely energetic philanthropist, and was actively engaged in the management of almost all the charitable institutions in Edinburgh. His patronage of the Church of Scotland carried it to a position of importance and influence that it had not known since the disestablishment of 1689. Originally Forbes considered altering and extending Colinton castle and had plans drawn up by local architect and mason John Fraser. He then decided to build a new house and asked a number of architects to draw up plans.