Pilrig House

Here is a house with all the appearance of a C17 building, tucked away next to modern housing and facing a public park.

The original building indeed dates from 1638, built for goldsmith Gilbert Kirkwood but it is remembered for its connection with the Balfour family, (forebears of Robert Louis Stevenson), who purchased the Pilrig estate in 1718. The family connection was broken in 1941, when it was bequested to the City Of Edinburgh Corporation who used the house variously as a Civil Defence Centre, boys' club and fireman's hostel, during which time it gradually fell into disrepair. Later subject to vandalism it was subsequently gutted by fire, leaving only the bare walls.

Happily, in 1985, when all options appeared to have been exhausted, the building was rescued by Wimpey Homes Holdings, who rebuilt the interior entirely including a replica turnpike stair, dividing it into 6 flats, and restored the exterior.

A nice sundial on the western end of the south face with the dates 1718-1941 marks the handover from the Balfour family.

Thus, the C17 shell hides a completely renewed interior.

I have been somewhat desultory with blipping and commenting lately but bear with me and I'll catch up with backblips eventually.