Writers’ Museum Lady Stair’s Close Edinburgh

The Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh is located in Lady Stair’s House just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.  The house is said to be named after the 18^th Century owner Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Stair.  The house was built in 1622 by Sir William Gray of Pittendrum.  In 1719 Elizabeth, Dowager Countess of Stair, bought Gray’s House and the surrounding close.  Throughout the 1800s the house was divided into apartments which were not well maintained.  The area now known as Lady Stair’s Close was being considered for demolition.  Then in 1893 Lord Rosebery a distant relative of Sir William Gray bought the house to restore it.  He commissioned the architect George Shaw Aitken to make it a fine town house once more.  This remodelling left the house in the shape that we find it today.  In 1907 Lady Stair’s House was gifted to the city for use as a museum and is now The Writers’ Museum.

Over the entrance to The Writers’ Museum is an ornamental carved stone lintel bearing the date 1622 and the initials of William Gray and Geida Smith they are the builders of the house.  The ornamentation is inscribed, “FEARE THE LORD & DEPART FROM EVIL.”  It would appear to be a quote from Proverbs Chapter 3 verses 7-8.  The King James Version would translate the original as “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”  It could be viewed as a self help guide suggesting that true spiritual fulfilment also brings physical health, or in reverse it could be viewed as a justification by the prosperous house builders that states that those who succeed are doing the Lord’s work.

The ornamentation above the door displays a flower and star which could indicate the rise from the ground of this tower house built upon the foundation of the union of William Gray and Geida Smith whose initials are carved separately either side of the coat of arms and also in conjunction on the left hand side of the lintel.  The left hand side of the lintel bears the star and William’s initials.  The new union will combine William’s high aspirations with Gieda’s fruitful nature.  The message detailed in the carving could be their hopes that their children will continue the family name and fortune.  This combining of the star and flower can be taken into several interpretations which should rely on accurate historic attributes. 

There is a much simpler stone to interpret which bears the dates 1622-1897.  The dates are figured on oval plaques each of which has a hand affixed.  The extended hands grasp one another in a handshake.  The dates are those of the building of the house and the completion of the repairs and remodelling by Lord Rosebery.  The two hands show that the works of man can span the ages to create a continued lineage homed in a family residence.  Lord Rosebery was a distant relation of Sir William Gray so this dated stone displays the pedigree and position of the men who built and cared for this house.

The Writers’ Museum focuses on Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.   The achievements of these three giants of Scottish Literature are shown through the collection of personal objects, portraits, manuscripts and first editions.  At the time of writing the Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm and entry is free of charge.  The museum is sited next to Makars’ Court which is still in an evolving national literary monument.  The flagstones have been inscribed with quotes from great Scottish literary figures.  There are new stones being laid as a part of the continuing development.

PHH Sykes

www.phhsykes.co.uk

http://phhsykes.blogspot.com