Panmure House (Edinburgh) facts for kids
Panmure House is an old building in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built in the 1600s. A famous Scottish thinker named Adam Smith lived here from 1778 to 1790. This is the only home of his that is still standing today. The house is near the Scottish Parliament. It is also part of a special area protected by UNESCO. This makes Panmure House a very important place in Scottish history.
While living at Panmure House, Adam Smith kept studying and writing. He published new versions of his most famous book, The Wealth of Nations. He was also working on another important book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, when he passed away in 1790. Today, Panmure House is a place for learning about economics and society. Heriot-Watt University manages it.
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History and Restoration
Panmure House was first built between 1691 and 1693. It was built for a person named Lt. Col. George Murray. Later, it was owned by the Earl of Panmure. Adam Smith lived in the house from 1778 to 1790.
After many years, the house became very run down. It was fixed up in the 1950s. For a while, it was used as a boys' club. Then it became a day centre for social services.
Restoring a Historic Building
In 1970, Panmure House was given a special status. It was named an A-listed building. This means it is a very important historic building. Edinburgh Business School, part of Heriot-Watt University, bought the house in 2008. They wanted to turn it into a place for research and discussions.
The house was in poor condition when it was bought. A lot of work was needed to fix it. Workers repaired the outside of the house. They rebuilt the tall chimneys and fixed the roofs. They also repaired the stone walls and replaced the windows.
The restoration also included digging out the old basement. This created a new, modern part of the building. This new area is called the Interpretation Suite. Visitors can learn about the house, Adam Smith, and the Scottish Enlightenment here. During the work, archaeologists found an old well and medieval kilns.
Inside the House
The inside of the house was also carefully restored. The goal was to make it look like it did in the late 1700s. They used materials and methods from Adam Smith's time. For example, they used special wood from North America for the wall panels. A new stone staircase was also added.
The inside of the house now mixes old and new styles. It has modern features like steel and digital screens. But these are hidden behind old-style panels and decorations. New stone fireplaces, oak floors, and lime plasterwork were also added. The original wooden beams in the attic are still there. They even have the original builders' marks on them.
The restoration work finished in mid-2018. The house was officially opened in November 2018. Former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, attended the opening.
Notable Visitors
When Adam Smith lived at Panmure House, it was a busy place. Many important thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment visited him there. These included:
- James Hutton: He is known as the founder of modern geology.
- Joseph Black: He was a key figure in chemistry.
- Robert Adam: A famous architect.
- William Robertson: A historian and head of Edinburgh University.
- Hugh Blair: A professor of public speaking.
- Samual Rogers: An English poet.
- Dugald Stewart: A philosopher and mathematician. He also wrote the first biography of Adam Smith.
Modern Day Use
Today, Panmure House is a lively centre for learning and discussion.
Adam Smith Lecture Series
This is a series of important talks. The best economic thinkers and Nobel Prize winners come to Panmure House. They give new talks about global issues. The first talk was given by Andy Haldane. He was the Chief Economist of the Bank of England at the time. In 2021, Professor Sir Angus Deaton gave the lecture. He is a senior scholar at Princeton University.
Lights of Caledonia
This is a series of events that celebrates Scotland's contributions to the world. These events are held at Adam Smith's last home. The first talk was in January 2020. It was given by Andrew Gilmour. He was a former Assistant Secretary-General in Human Rights for the UN.
The Hutton Series on Climate Change
This series is named after James Hutton. He was a friend of Adam Smith and a frequent visitor to Panmure House. This series of events ran from 2020 to 2021. It brought together experts, business leaders, scientists, and citizens. Their goal was to find ten key ideas and actions to help with the climate crisis.
Fringe at Panmure
Panmure House is a venue for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It is known as Venue 305. It hosts shows about economics, money, and current events. It also features shows about Adam Smith's life and work.
One past show was "The Butcher, The Brewer, The Baker... and the Commentator." This was an economics debate show. It brought back Adam Smith's tradition of lively discussions. The house also hosted a play called "Adam Smith: The Invisible Hand." This play explored what might happen if Smith's lost papers were found today. It was performed in Smith's own drawing room. The play featured characters like Jean Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Robert Burns, and Smith's mother.
Panmure House Prize
The Panmure House Prize is an award given each year. It is worth $75,000. The prize is for research about long-term investing and new ideas. It is given to new leaders in universities. They must be planning great research on how to fund new ideas for a long time. This is in the spirit of Adam Smith's work.
Academics in economics and finance can apply for the prize. Their entries are reviewed by a special panel. In 2021, Professor Rachelle C. Sampson won the prize. She is from the University of Maryland.
Smith Schools' Series
Panmure House helps run the Smith Schools' Series. This program is made to teach school students about Adam Smith. It also teaches them about the Scottish Enlightenment and its impact worldwide. The series helps students develop debating skills and critical thinking.
