KING’S STABLES, CASTLE BARNS, AND CASTLE HILL. ‘39
of carved wood work, exhibiting traces of gilding. An explosion of gunpowder, which took
place in the lower part of the house in 1811, attended with loss of life, entirely destroyed
the ancient fireplace, which was of a remarkably beautiful Gothic design.
Notwithstanding the comparatively modern decorations, the house s till retains unequivocal
remains of a much earlier period. The sculptured doorway in Blair’s Close, already
alluded to, forming the original main entrance to the whole building, is specially worthy of
notice, and would of itself justify us in assigning its erection to the earlier part of the
sixteenth century. It very nearly corresponds with one still remaining on the west side of
Blackfriar’s Wynd, the entrance to the turnpike stair of an ancient mansion, which appears,
from the title-deeds of a neighbouring property, to have been the residence of the Earl of
Morton. In the latter example, the heraldic supporters, though equally rudely sculptured,
present somewhat more distinctly the same features as in the other, and both are clearly
intended for unicorns.’
The south front of the building is finished with a parapet, adorned with gurgoils in the
shape of cannons, and on the first floor * (in Blair’s Close) there is still remainins an
ancient fireplace of huge old-fashioned dimensions. The jambs are neatly carved Gothic
pillars, simiiar in design to several that formerly existed in the Guise Palace, Blyth’s
Close ; and the whole is now enclosed, and forms a roomy coal-cellar, after having been
used as a bedcloset by the previous tenant in these degenerate days. As late as 1783, this
part of the old mansion was the residence of John Grieve, Esq., then Lord Provost of
Edinburgh.
This house has apparently been one of special note in early times from its substantial
magnificence. It is described in one of the deeds as ;; that tenement or dwelling-house
called the Solate House of old, of the deceased Patrick Edgar,” a definiiion repeated in
several others, evidently to distinguish it from its humble thatched nei&%ours, ‘; lying on
the south iide of the High Street of Edinburgh, near the Castle wal1,between the lands of
the deceased Mr A. Syme, advocate, on the east, the close of the said Patrick Edgar on
the west,” &c. It is alluded to in the Diurnal of Occurrents, 7th September 1570, where
the escape of Robert Hepburn, younger of Wauchtoun, from the Earl of Morton’s adherents,
is described It is added-‘; He came to the Castell of Edinburgh, quhairin he was ressauit
with great difficultie ; for when he was passand in at the said Castell zett, his adversaries
were at Patrik Edgar his hous end.” This mansion was latterly possessed, as we have
seen, by the Newbyth family, by whom it was held for several generations ; and here it was
that the gallant Sir David Baird was born and brought up.‘ It is said also to hare been
F
1 The adoption of the royal supportera may possibly have been an assumption of the Regent’s, in virtue of his
exercise of the functions of royalty. In which case, the building on the Castle Hill might be presumed alm to be his,
and deserted by him from ita dangerous proximity to the Castle, when held by his rivals. This, however, is mere conjecture.
A note in the Diurnal of Occurrents, 20th Nov. 1572, states-“ In this menetyme, James Earle of Mortouo,
regent, lay deidlie seik j his Grace waa lugeit in Williame Craikia lugeing on the sout\ syid of the trone, in
Edinburgh.”
a To prevent misconception in the description of buildings, we may state that, throughout the Work, the floors of
buildings are to be understood thus :-Sunk, or area floor, ground floor, 6rat floor, second floor, bcc., reckoning from
below. ’ Diurnal of Occurrents, p. 186. ’ On Sir David Baird’s return from the Spanish Campaign, he visited his birth-place, and examined with great interest
the acenes where he had passed his boyhoodi Chambem haa furnished a lively account of this in hm Traditions, vol. i.
p. 155.
