One of the most remarkable things about Scotland is its wealth of free museums. I enjoyed them so much but the Georgian House (which isn’t free but very worthwhile) was my favorite in Edinburgh itself.
Located in Charlotte Square, the premiere place to live in New Town Edinburgh in the 18th-century/Georgian era, it’s been meticulously restored and opened to the public.
My hotel was just down the street in another Georgian building only my room wasn’t quite as elegant as the photos below!
This house was first occupied in 1796 by a Scottish laird and his family, including some very marriageable daughters. No 7 Charlotte Square was acquired for 1,800 pounds sterling by John Lamont, of Lamont in Argyllshire, 18th chief of Clan Lamont.
No photographs are permitted of the interior of the house so I had to rely on these from the National Trust for Scotland. The house is actually comprised of 5 floors and the rooms are all stunning, full of furnishings from the last quarter of the 18th-century.
In the dining room are large windows overlooking Charlotte Square. Meals were served not in courses but all at once, every dish on the table. The Scottish sideboard against the left wall has a thistle pattern down to the brass knobs. If you look closely you can spy a pewter chamberpot therein for the gentlemen to use when the ladies had withdrawn after dinner. And you thought those ladies were simply leaving the men to their spirits and smoking!
This is actually the ground floor bedchamber next to the dining room. It seems to have been a custom for the bedchamber to be on the ground floor overlooking the garden behind the house. The bed, hidden here, is huge with a yellow floral quilted counterpane. A charming feature is the little pockets above the pillows for watches.
Here we have yet another Sunderland lustre chamber pot in the bedchamber with a ribald little verse that gives a wee glimpse of how earthy and passionate the 18th-century was compared to the very prudish Victorian era!
The basement kitchen is really a work of art! So many copper pots and pans and the most enormous fireplace left me feeling sorry for the cooks and scullery maids. Yet this was a state of the art kitchen at the time. The walls were painted blue which was a traditional color for kitchens to keep the flies away.
Do you have any favorite historic houses on your list? Or in your neck of the woods?
If so, I’d love to hear about them…
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The first picture looks like a painting! I have many favorite historic homes. Some for their beauty and some for their significance. My current WIP is set on an estate called Linden Hill. Two neighboring mansions built by Charles Weyerhaeuser and Richard Drew Musser. The homes were built in 1898. They’re nestled on 9 wooded acres along the Mississippi River. The estate is called Linden Hill because half the property is at the top of the hill and half is at the bottom. The homes are built on the hill, side by side–and were built when Charles and Drew we’re still VERY eligible bachelors. 😉 The story is heading off to my agent this evening!!
Gabrielle, SO thrilled you’re sending that story off this very day :). Surely cause for some sort of celebration! Huge congrats on that. I was thinking earlier how very close you are. I’m sure we’ll be celebrating with you when some lucky/blessed pub snags you. Only a matter of time!
So intriguing that Drew and Charles were very eligible bachelors – and they must have been close friends to have lived that near each other. I’d love to learn more about that history but will just wait to read your books! Any acreage along the riverfront must be especially stunning. I sure enjoyed setting my Ballantynes by the Monongahela and Allegheny, etc.
Anyway, ongoing prayers with you as you submit!
WOW! I love the photos! These grand old buildings are just beautiful! What fun to be able to walk through them and imagine what it would have been like to LIVE in them. *sigh* If walls could talk…
I had to chuckle over the saying on that chamber pot. Sounds like they must have had a sense of humor anyway. Something that I wondered about was your comment about the kitchen walls being blue. Did anyone give any indication as to why the color blue would discourage flies?
There are several old, historic houses in the area where I live. The two that stick out in my mind are the Harlan House, which was owned by Senator James Harlan, who was a good friend to President Abraham Lincoln and whose daughter eventually married Lincoln’s oldest son, Robert. Senator Harlan also owned a hotel in town. It is still standing and is currently being used as an apartment building. The other house is called the Ambler House and I’ve heard that there’s a secret room located beneath the house that may have been used as part of the underground railroad. The Ambler House was featured on the show “If Walls Could Talk” about 4 or 5 years ago. Very interesting to hear stories like these right in our own back yards. 🙂
Angi, Oh, love the history you share about those old houses/buildings. You really whet the historical appetite :). I’d love to know the rest of Robert’s story, if the marriage was a happy one, what happened to he and Harlan’s daughter, etc. My mind goes on these rambling tangents, lol. Some of the best stories are built on the facts you mention. And I’m just so, so interested in the Underground Railroad. Your neck of the woods has such treasure – and I know you appreciate it so much as evidenced here. Thanks for taking time to share all that. You do it so well, so interestingly, and so succinctly!
Yes, that chamber pot is quite racy in a sense. I don’t have a clue why blue walls would deter flies or if that was a mistaken belief. I should have asked! If I discover that I will tell you as I’d like to know the same. You think just like I think about LIVING in those beautiful rooms/ houses. I can only imagine what went on and was said and done, etc. Great story fodder! The Georgian House was one place I could return to again and again. I felt like a kid, wanting to touch everything but not being able to. At the Alhambra in Spain I was scolded for touching something, lol. But I’d do it all over again if I could ;)…
My favorite historical house? Biltmore. Oh. My. Crazy huge. And beautiful.
Love the pictures, Laura. I’m looking forward to seeing more. How are you feeling now? Back to normal?
Sally, BILTMORE – oh my, yes! In fact, I was talking to a Scottish doctor at the airport who rather charmingly asked me if there were any castles in America and I thought of Biltmore :). Surely that counts. ‘Crazy huge’ is certainly the right wording. And very, very beautiful.
Thanks for taking time to look at these pics. And being thoughtful and asking how I’m doing. Much better but still coughing – and playing nurse to Randy who now has it, but not as bad as I did ;). He’s such a hardy soul, lol.
Great to see you here!
When I was in Munich in 2009, I visited this beautiful palace.
http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/ny_schl.htm
I found it fascinating. Especially the room that held the gallery of beauties. Here is the history behind all those paintings
.http://www.schloss-nymphenburg.de/englisch/palace/room15.htm
I am so glad you are home. <3
Xoxo, Stacie Hope 🙂
Stacie-Hope, You are such a well-traveled soul! What beautiful links! I will go back and peruse at my leisure. Fascinating, yes, and so beautiful. I’ve not been to Munich, just Koblenz and Mainz. Germany is such an amazing place. Those paintings are breathtaking. Art has always been one of my favorite things – I loved art history in college. I wish we could keep taking classes like that and visit all the corresponding sites. Together :)!
I hope your summer is starting off well. I know you had a graduation recently but I am behind with things just getting back. Hopefully all is well and your nest isn’t feeling too empty yet. Thoughts and prayers with you. So good to be home with you here welcoming me back!! Bless you.
I know I have been to some neat historical homes, but I don’t remember what or where they were! It wasn’t until recently that I became so enamored with history and historical places. I am sure I would appreciate them far more now and cherish every moment I got to spend there. Maybe one day I can go back, and truly appreciate them!
Thanks for sharing another peak at your trip! Next time you need to take me along…;)
Oh, you’d be a wonderful traveling companion, Emma, I just know you would. We’d be like a couple of kids on those long transatlantic flights. I was wishing for someone to watch Pride & Prejudice with me(my first viewing of the Kiera K. one – the impassioned speech by Darcy in the rain just did me in ;)! I know just what you mean about appreciating those historical places more as you get older. When I was going to school in England during college I sometimes wonder where my head was as it all just kind of went by me while I’m wild about it now. Maybe a teensy bit sank in as I do see echoes of that time in my stories, but I was very blonde back then…
Thanks so much for reliving the beauty of the Georgian House with me and all its whimsy and elegance :).
I adore historic homes! We try to find them wherever we travel. Thank you for the tour of this one. It looks fabulous! Of course Edinburgh is one of our top places we want to visit, for the history of course but also due to many readings of the Isabel Dalhousie series of books by Alexander McCall Smith.
Oh yes, Anne, love A. McCall Smith! One of my favorite quotes about Edinburgh is by him. I just knew you loved historic homes. I imagine there are some beautiful ones in Texas. Love the old ones with the wraparound porches especially. But this Scottish one will do. The amazing thing is that many of these Georgian residences are empty and available to let/rent. I found myself imagining writing a contemp. novel with a writer-in-residence heroine who lives there. But I could never manage the electronic angle, lol, so better stay a couple of hundred years back…
I know you’ll love Scotland when you get there. I’d be happy to give you any info of the places I’ve been when the time comes if you’d like that. I can’t wait to return myself!
As you already know Kentucky is full of Historic homes. With Locust Grove being one of my favorites which is bascially in my neck of the woods. Another favorite historic home in Kentucky is My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown.
One of my “new” favorite historic homes happens to be in Nashville Tennessee. Belle Meade Plantation. Which means beautiful Meadow in French. The House and grounds are beautiful. The plantation is also the setting of Tamera Alexander’s new series the Belle Meade Plantation series. Which the first book To Whisper Her Name is a great book.
Carissa, it’s wonderful to live around all that history. I, too, have been turned onto the historic estate of Belle Meade by way of Tamera’s “To Whisper Her Name.” Loved it! We went through Nashville last month, and I couldn’t help wondering how close we were to it…
Carissa, Love that you mention Belle Meade. I had relatives in Nashville when I was a girl and used to spend summers there and saw that at the time. Only I wish I could remember more! Would love to go back. One place I love is Locust Grove and I know you do, too. I’d love to live there or have a house just like it. And I’m very fond of the Stephen Foster Story which used to be seen as an outdoor drama. I’m dating myself here as I don’t think they do that anymore but they may! Kentucky is second to none as far as history in the states. You’re my KY connection and I’m so thankful :).
I actually saw Belle Meade last summer before I read the book we were in Nashville and tickets for Belle Meade were included in our ticket packet.
They still do Stephen Foster the musical or they did as of last summer.
OH, so glad to know the musical is still going on. I can’t get “I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” out of my mind. The outdoor drama I grew up with called Wilderness Road in Berea (about Kentucky’s first settlers) ended years ago though I still love to go back to the foot of the mountains/Pinnacle where it was done as the amphitheater still exists in those woods. The old sets are still there, too, locked away in old buildings or used to be. Bittersweet.
I imagine Tamera’s book was even more meaningful for you since you’d been there before you read it. 🙂 I have it here and need to read it!
Oh, I know there are some historic homes here in Kentucky, and I’d love to see the Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington. I’m like literally ready to clap over these great pics, lol! But you know me–anything 18th century 😉 Five floors! Oh what a wonder to have seen each room. Love the chamber pot verse!
Gwen, This house is right down your alley :)! I would have loved to have toured with you. Like something out of your stories – and mine! The chamberpot is quite amusing. Another reader on Facebook reminded me that King George is sometimes affixed to the bottom of chamberpots, especially American Revolutionary ones, lol. I have seen one of those before and it makes you chuckle.
I do hope you can see the Mary Todd Lincoln home. It’s right downtown if I’m remembering correctly. I recall some of her dresses there and was very moved by the story of her younger years before she met Abe. Her later life was so tragic. Beautiful house though. Carissa could probably give us directions :).
I’m so excited for you and your finaling and everything. Good things ahead 4 u!!
I love visiting historic places! Just recently, as part of a requirement for Art Appreciation – I took my daughter to Fallingwater in PA. It is a Frank Lloyd Wright house and was left as if the family just walked out. Shame on me, I have visited it when I was in high school in 1969 and it is only about an hour away from us. It is amazing!
A couple others that I have been to are – Lanier Mansion in Madison IN (furnished is things from that time period). Stan Hywet Hall, in Akron OH, which was left furnished for the public to enjoy by the founder of Goodyear. And Blennerhassett in Parkersburg WV – it has some of the original furnishings and has been totally rebuilt. Also, it is on a island.
Closer to home, we have a artisan village at Penn Alps in Grantsville MD. The houses there are not mansions but rich with history of the past. You can see crafts from the past. (and it is all free)
I guess, it is not hard to see that I love to see historical houses.
Susan, Bless you so much for your wonderful additions to this post!! Each place sounds so rich and interesting historically – am sure each is beautiful, too. I had to smile when you mentioned FL Wright’s home as I borrowed Fallingwater to name a native character in a book years ago. I can just imagine the house! Especially if it’s been left as the family left it. I’d love to see it!
The other homes you mention are so intriguing, too, especially Blennerhassett with the island setting. Your artisan village near to you sounds a little like Old Sturbridge Village in MA which I loved as a girl. It’s a working village from the early 19th-c or so and carefully preserved over time.
I’m with you as far as our love for historic homes and places. Thanks so much for adding to this post!!
YAY! More beautiful pictures! No wonder you wrote so much on this trip, girl – the inspiration was EVERYWHERE! Gosh, if these walls could talk the stories they would tell! Thanks, again, for sharing more of your fabulous trip with us here. The pictures are like a little snapshot of history, and the commentary is so interesting. I mean, I never knew painting walls blue would keep flies away, lol!
I’m so happy to hear you’re feeling better, but so sorry Randy got sick! God bless him, sick and all and still out there planting tomatoes. He’s made of sturdier stuff than me too, lol! Praying he feels better soon!
Blessings,
Amanda
Amanda, Oh JOY – hearing twice from you in what day :). A real treat! So happy you like the pictures. I think you’ll especially like the post for next Monday as it’s snapshots of my favorite moments from the trip which will then end the trip madness. Till the next trip, lol. You’re so right – inspiration was everywhere. I just have to close my eyes and remember. Oh, to have your help putting those 1600 photos in albums! But it will be fun reliving it again while doing so.
I may well have to paint our own walls blue here. It’s definitely insect season! Sunny till today. I hope you are having a great day there, feeling fine, and enjoying the new maturity another year brings :). Oh, to be young as you!! Thanks for the well wishes for Randy. I’m giving him plenty of TLC and chicken soup (well, chicken and dumplings). Surely that counts!!
Have a wonderful day there, my friend.
Excited to see some of your photos and hear about the trip, Laura! I agree, that first one resembles a painting. Is that one of yours? Lovely.
I loved Charlotte Square when in Edinburg and enjoyed reading about your tour. (I, too, wonder about the blue kitchen walls.) Am surprised about the chamberpot in the dining room! What interesting things you learned.
One of the fave historical homes I’ve visited was Culzean Castle in Scotland–not only the architecture, details of life, etc. But the upper floor had an office that the Scots “gave” to General Eisenhower during WWII and then to his family after the war to use whenever they wished. To see their appreciation for the help offered by American military was very touching.
I look forward to more pix. And I hope your writing exploded, both in the new story, and finishing up your edits on the last. Thanks for sharing!
Mary Kay, So good to see you here! Neat to know you’ve already been there and enjoyed it like I did. I wish I could have dressed up and stayed for the week! Working in one of these historic homes would be a great thing. I could tell you more about the chamberpot in the dining room, thanks to our very informative tour guide, but will refrain here as it’s somewhat of a delicate issue 😉
I’d love to see the interior of Culzean Castle. The exterior is stunning. So interesting about WWII and that office.
The writing did explode – well said – and I’m trying to transfer it from notebooks to Word. Will be interesting to see the word count when done. I never count words as it’s too much like counting calories but this is one thing I’m paying attention to. I’ve never been a fast writer but something happened this trip. Hmmm. May have to repeat :).
Thanks so much for brightening up the journal here with your presence!
How beautiful! I would have been right at home living there back in the day. 😉 Thank you for sharing your trip details. I probably won’t get to ever travel much but as you know from visiting the area where I live, it’s full of its own history. Some of the places I love close to and love are Frank Lloyd Wright’s gorgeous Fallingwater as well as Mount Washington’s Tavern (a stagecoach stop along the National Road) and West Overton (birthplace of Henry Clay Frick). I could live forever and probably not learn half of the history of my own corner of the world!
Renee, So good to see you! Your profile pic made me do a doubletake, lol, but in a good way ;). So glad you like the pics. You and Susan here are big fans of Fallingwater. That name belongs in a book! I’m SO intrigued by Mt. WA’s Tavern – my kind of history. After seeing Henry Frick’s home in Pittsburgh I’d love to go to West Overton next. He was such an interesting if controversial figure. I’m still not over The Men Who Built America. He was absolutely vilified in that series but I did love Adam Jonas Segaller as Carnegie. But I digress!
You live in the most wonderful state in terms of history. I just might forgive you for the fact it’s Daniel Boone’s birthplace. We Kentuckians try to claim him but you Pennsylvanians have every right! One day I hope you meet up with you in your neck of the woods. Now THAT would be a great trip!!
I’ll hold you to that, Renee :). I’ll take you to lunch and you can give me a tour of that historic stuff!!