Gladstone's Land facts for kids
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| Location | 477B Lawnmarket Royal Mile Edinburgh EH1 2NT |
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| Type | Historic house |
Gladstone's Land is a very old house in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in the 17th century. Today, it has been carefully fixed up and filled with old furniture. It's now a popular place for visitors to see what life was like hundreds of years ago. The National Trust for Scotland looks after it.
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A Tall House with a History
The building you see today, at 481 and 483 Lawnmarket, was first built in 1550. But a rich merchant named Thomas Gledstanes bought it in 1617. He was a burgess, which meant he was an important citizen of Edinburgh. Thomas and his wife, Bessie Cunningham, rebuilt the house. The work finished in 1620.
This house is on the famous Royal Mile, between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood. Its great location and large size showed how wealthy Thomas Gledstanes was. In the old part of Edinburgh, there wasn't much space. So, buildings often grew upwards instead of outwards. That's why Gladstone's Land is six storeys tall!
Who Lived Here?
Thomas Gledstanes lived on the top floors of the house. He rented out other parts of the building to different people. These tenants came from various social classes. There was another merchant, John Riddoch, and a knight named James Crichton. A guild officer also lived there. Guilds were like clubs for people doing the same job.
One famous tenant was William Struthers. He lived in the house from 1626 to 1633. He was a minister at the nearby St Giles. He was involved in a well-known witch trial during his time.
Shops and Goods
John Riddoch and his wife Margaret Noble ran a shop and a tavern in the house. A "tavernar" named Isobel Johnston helped them. John Riddoch passed away in 1632. Records show the kinds of things they sold. These included raisins, figs, ginger, sugar, and even clay tobacco pipes. They also sold spices like cinnamon and liquorice. After Riddoch, Andrew Pringle took over the shop.
By 1636, Thomas Gledstanes shared ownership with another merchant, David Jonkin. David Jonkin was also a shipowner. Their tenants included two lawyers, Andrew Hay and John Adamson. David Jonkin was a successful merchant. He even helped with a war effort in 1639. He sold firearms to the Earl of Argyll. He also bought a warship in Holland.
Saving a Piece of History
By the late 1700s, Edinburgh's Old Town was not as popular a place to live. The city was growing, and many rich people moved to the newer parts of town. These new areas were less crowded.
In 1934, Gladstone's Land was almost torn down. But the National Trust for Scotland stepped in and saved it. An architect named Sir Frank Mears helped restore the building. During this work, they found beautiful old painted ceilings from the Renaissance period.
Today, the restored house shows what life was like in the 17th century. You can see open fires and old furniture. There was no running water back then! On the ground floor, there's a reconstructed shop. It has copies of goods that would have been sold there. This area would have protected customers from the weather. A curved stone staircase leads from the street to the first floor entrance.
Above the entrance, there's a sign with the date 1617. It also has a golden hawk with its wings spread out. This hawk is important because the name "Gledstanes" comes from the Scots word "gled." A "gled" is another name for a kite or a hawk.
Visitors to Edinburgh today can compare Gladstone's Land to another house. The National Trust for Scotland also looks after The Georgian House. This house is in the New Town and shows how rich people lived later on.
Gladstone's Land Today
Gladstone's Land was closed for a big restoration project. This happened between February 2020 and May 2021. The work cost £1.5 million.
Now, the house has a museum on the first, second, and third floors. On the ground floor, there's an ice cream shop and a retail space. The upper floors have holiday flats where people can stay. The museum teaches visitors about the lives of merchants and tradespeople over 500 years. You can take self-guided tours or join a guided tour to learn even more.
