Riddle’s Court, Edinburgh: A Merchant’s House Fit for a King
- CFA Archaeolgy
- Jan 6, 2023
- 2 min read
Riddle’s Court, a former merchant’s house situated off the Royal Mile, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, underwent major refurbishment from 2015 to 2017 during its transformation into the Patrick Geddes Centre for Learning. Part of these works included a range of historical and archaeological projects, including historical research, building survey, and architectural watching briefs. The results of these were unparalleled at the time, as no other building on the Royal Mile had been the focus of this level of research, and have been compiled in a fascinating article: Riddle’s Court, Edinburgh: A Merchant’s House Fit for a King.
In the late 16th century, much of the Royal Mile was dominated by stone and timber-framed houses. Riddle’s Court, however, stood apart. It was an amalgam of predominantly ashlar and rubble construction with tall thatched roofs over dormer windows, and slate would be added in the early 18th century. The interior of the court was furnished with several turnpike staircases (of which only one now survives). Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Riddle’s Court was bedecked with all the fine trappings of a country mansion house and it was occupied by both major and minor aristocracy up to the late 18th century.
The status of the building was elevated by earlier royal visitations which had led to partial remodelling for ceremonial purposes - including a painted ceiling in the 'King's Chamber' which commemorated the royal union and lavish banquet of of King James VI of Scotland (James I of England) and his bride Queen Anne of Denmark. This ornate and historically significant painted beam and board ceiling was discovered during a period of building renovation by Edinburgh City Council in the 1960's.
The ceiling, having been restored, is now a focal point within a large collection of ornate plaster and painted ceilings. Subsequent removal of more modern lined ceilings during the present refurbishment led to the discovery of three more painted beam and board ceilings, and a concealed fireplace and bread oven that are rare survivors within not only the Royal Mile but within Scotland as a whole. The presence of so much hitherto unrecorded artwork has significantly raised the importance of the Court’s North Block.
CFA's article, Riddle’s Court, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh: a merchant’s house fit for a king, written by Dr Mike Cressey with contributions by Anne Crone, Karen Dundas, Christina Hills, and Alasdair Ross, is freely available to read in Volume 102 of Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports, published by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Watch Dr Cressey's lecture on this fascinating site, available online.
