The house

500 years of trading history in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town

The story of Gladstone’s Land is inextricably linked to the history of commerce in Edinburgh. Over the years, the property has played host to a wide range of businesses and tradespeople, from spirit dealers to shoemakers, bakers to boarding-house keepers, and drapers to dairymen. The goods made in the property (and sold from it) indicate the prosperity of the inhabitants and give a fascinating insight into their daily lives.

Gladstone’s Land takes its name from Thomas Gladstone who purchased the tenement in 1617 with the intention of renting out the apartments. To attract the wealthiest tenants, he extended the building to the front, adding three intricate and fashionable painted wooden ceilings in the new rooms he created. These ceilings were later concealed beneath plaster and remained hidden until the 1930s, when the National Trust for Scotland bought the property and rediscovered them during renovations. All three are now on display in the house.

Gladstone’s Land was occupied by upper- and middle-class owners and tenants until the end of the 18th century, when the wealthy moved to the recently built New Town. This marked the start of a period of decline for the property, and the Old Town as a whole. By the early 20th century, the property had become so run down that it was labelled as ‘unfit for human habitation’ and scheduled for demolition before being rescued by the Trust.

During your visit you can learn about the lives and professions of residents at the property over 300 years, from 1632 to 1911, including the sights, sounds and smells that they would have experienced.

You can choose to explore the property at your own pace between 10am and 3pm (last entry 2.30pm) or join one of our daily guided tours at 3pm.

A large, old-fashioned room contains two old iron beds, with sparse linen upon them. The room has wooden floorboards with a couple of old rugs beside the beds. The ceiling has dark wooden beams, and the walls are white. There is a wooden clothes horse in the far corner, beside a large wooden chest of drawers with a large washing bowl on top.

An oil painting of a 17th-century judge is displayed in a simple wooden frame on a bright yellow wall. The painting is seen from a curtained bed, which has intricate wooden carvings at the far end.

A view of a re-created 17th-century kitchen with a flagstone floor and wooden beams in the ceiling. A very large hearth glows to the left, with various iron pots arranged around it. Dried herbs hang from the wall beside the fireplace. A low fold-down bed with blankets is set up in the corner of the room.

A golden statue of a hawk holding a rat in its talons is attached above the entrance to Gladstone’s Land. Beyond it, the view extends down the Royal Mile, with the spire of St Giles’ Cathedral clearly silhouetted against the pale blue sky.

A round wooden table is shown with an armed wooden chair behind it. On the table are a tall candlestick, a horn cup, various metal plates and a lidded jug.

A close-up view of decorated wooden beams, forming part of a ceiling. Images of fruit and flowers can be seen.

A reconstructed Georgian era room with wooden floorboards and sky blue walls. The room has a large wooden workbench, with rolls of cloth lying underneath. A tall dresser stands behind the bench, with rolls of cloth and folded linen on its various shelves. A table is set beside the small windows. Gilt-framed mirrors hang on the walls.

A close-up view of a pile of neatly folded linens and cloths, showing a variety of colours, patterns and fabrics.

A close-up view of an open wooden drawer, with many small blocks of yellow beeswax arranged inside. A small glass stands beside them, with red tokens inside. A pile of brown paper bags can be seen at the back of the drawer.

An old, dark wooden bureau with a fold-down desk is displayed in the corner of a blue-walled room, beside a small, stone-framed window. A tall candlestick leans on top of the desk, along with a small metal pot and a neat pile of notebooks.