Unusual stairs. Detail of the external pentice stair (reconstructed) of the historic (1590s) Riddles Court
Detail of the external pentice stair (reconstructed) of the historic (1590s) Riddles Court in the Old Town of central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
About Riddle's Court
Located at the top of the Royal Mile, and only a short walk from Edinburgh Castle, the history of Riddle’s Court extends back into the Medieval Era. However, the building as we understand it today was amalgamated and rebuilt by Baillie John McMorran in the 1590s. Its purpose was to be a high-status, multiple-occupancy dwelling, providing its residents with privacy as well as the convenience of a central location.
Its grandeur when first built is evidenced by the fact that it was the town residence of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and later Lord Chancellor of Scotland, Alexander Seton and in 1598 played host to a grand banquet attended by King James VI and his wife Anne of Denmark. It became known as Riddle’s Court after 1726, when George Riddell purchased and reconstructed the part of the site facing the Lawnmarket.
Like many other properties in the Old Town, the status of Riddle’s Court declined during the late 18th century when its wealthy residents moved to the newly-built and more spacious New Town. In the 1830s, the southern-most parts of the building were demolished and its façade reconstructed to bring it in-line with the new Victoria Terrace, commissioned as part of the 1827 Edinburgh Improvement Act.
Further parts of the building were demolished in the 1890s by Patrick Geddes. Geddes was a true polymath – a biologist and sociologist as well as a philanthropist, educator and town planner. His work at Riddle’s Court was motivated by his principle of ‘conservative surgery’, which aimed to preserve the most historically significant parts of Old Town buildings by demolishing the more dilapidated parts, making what remained more hygienic and suitable for modern living. Patrick Geddes converted the main part of Riddle’s Court into one of Edinburgh’s first student halls of residence. His motto ‘Vivendo Discimus’, ‘By Living We Learn’, remains carved over the entrance to the inner courtyard, a sign of how his educational philosophy continues to influence the use of the building and SHBT’s wider approach to learning.
Geddes’s attempts to rejuvenate Riddle’s Court were short-lived, and during the early 20th century the building reverted to its use as small, private dwellings. In 1946, the site was purchased by City of Edinburgh Council who oversaw its renovation in the 1960s and discovered the medieval painted ceiling in the north block. From 1951, Riddle’s Court became a regular venue of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in 1973, the headquarters of the Workers Educational Association.
In 2005, as the building once again fell into disrepair, the WEA sought to raise awareness of its plight and historical importance. Their call was answered by SHBT, who in 2008 completed a Feasibility Study for the building and were subsequently granted a 99-year lease by City of Edinburgh Council in order to restore the building and oversee its subsequent use.
Unusual stairs. Detail of the external pentice stair (reconstructed) of the historic (1590s) Riddles Court
Detail of the external pentice stair (reconstructed) of the historic (1590s) Riddles Court in the Old Town of central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
About Riddle's Court
Located at the top of the Royal Mile, and only a short walk from Edinburgh Castle, the history of Riddle’s Court extends back into the Medieval Era. However, the building as we understand it today was amalgamated and rebuilt by Baillie John McMorran in the 1590s. Its purpose was to be a high-status, multiple-occupancy dwelling, providing its residents with privacy as well as the convenience of a central location.
Its grandeur when first built is evidenced by the fact that it was the town residence of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and later Lord Chancellor of Scotland, Alexander Seton and in 1598 played host to a grand banquet attended by King James VI and his wife Anne of Denmark. It became known as Riddle’s Court after 1726, when George Riddell purchased and reconstructed the part of the site facing the Lawnmarket.
Like many other properties in the Old Town, the status of Riddle’s Court declined during the late 18th century when its wealthy residents moved to the newly-built and more spacious New Town. In the 1830s, the southern-most parts of the building were demolished and its façade reconstructed to bring it in-line with the new Victoria Terrace, commissioned as part of the 1827 Edinburgh Improvement Act.
Further parts of the building were demolished in the 1890s by Patrick Geddes. Geddes was a true polymath – a biologist and sociologist as well as a philanthropist, educator and town planner. His work at Riddle’s Court was motivated by his principle of ‘conservative surgery’, which aimed to preserve the most historically significant parts of Old Town buildings by demolishing the more dilapidated parts, making what remained more hygienic and suitable for modern living. Patrick Geddes converted the main part of Riddle’s Court into one of Edinburgh’s first student halls of residence. His motto ‘Vivendo Discimus’, ‘By Living We Learn’, remains carved over the entrance to the inner courtyard, a sign of how his educational philosophy continues to influence the use of the building and SHBT’s wider approach to learning.
Geddes’s attempts to rejuvenate Riddle’s Court were short-lived, and during the early 20th century the building reverted to its use as small, private dwellings. In 1946, the site was purchased by City of Edinburgh Council who oversaw its renovation in the 1960s and discovered the medieval painted ceiling in the north block. From 1951, Riddle’s Court became a regular venue of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in 1973, the headquarters of the Workers Educational Association.
In 2005, as the building once again fell into disrepair, the WEA sought to raise awareness of its plight and historical importance. Their call was answered by SHBT, who in 2008 completed a Feasibility Study for the building and were subsequently granted a 99-year lease by City of Edinburgh Council in order to restore the building and oversee its subsequent use.