Lauriston Castle as it appeared in 1775, before the 1827 addition by William Burn.

Lauriston Castle is a 16th Century tower house with 19th Century extensions overlooking the Firth of Forth, in Edinburgh, Scotland. A tower house stands on a hillock near Quin along the back road from Limerick to Ennis. ... The Firth of Forth from Calton Hill The Forth Bridges cross the Firth Satellite photo of the Firth and the surrounding area The Firth of Forth (Abhainn Dhubh [Black River] in Scottish Gaelic) is the estuary or firth of Scotlands River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Dùn Èideann () in Scottish Gaelic) is Scotlands capital, and its second-largest city. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

History

The original tower house was built around 1590 by Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston, the father of John Napier (1550 – 1617), the inventor of logarithms, for his younger son, also named Archibald. Later, it was the home of John Law (1671 – 1729), the economist and of the Right Hon. Andrew Lord Rutherfurd (1791 – 1854). In 1827, Thomas Allan, a banker and mineralogist, commissioned William Burn (1789 – 1870) to extend the house in the Jacobean style. Events March 14 - Battle of Ivry - Henry IV of France again defeats the forces of the Catholic League under the Duc de Mayenne. ... Merchiston is an wealthy area in the south-west of Edinburgh. ... John Napier For other people with the same name, see John Napier (disambiguation). ... Events February 7 - Julius III becomes Pope. ... Events Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed I (1603-1617) to Mustafa I (1617-1623). ... In mathematics, if two variables of bn = x are known, the third can be found. ... Jean Law John Law (1671 April 21 - 1729 March 21) was a Scottish economist who believed that money was only a means of exchange that did not constitute wealth in itself, and that national wealth depended on trade. ... Events May 9 - Thomas Blood, disguised as a clergyman, attempts to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. ... Events July 30 - Baltimore, Maryland is founded. ... Andrew Rutherfurd (1791 - 1854) was a Scottish judge. ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Naval Battle of Navarino by Carneray 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... William Burn (1789-1870) was a Scottish architect. ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Jacobean - an early phase of English Renaissance architecture and decoration. ...

William Reid, proprietor of Morison and Co., acquired Lauriston Castle in 1902, installed modern plumbing and electricity, and filling the house with a collection of fine furniture and artwork. Reid and his wife left their home to Scotland on the condition that it should be preserved unchanged. The City of Edinburgh has administered the house since Mrs Reid's death in 1926, which today offers a fascinating glimpse of Edwardian life in a Scottish country house. 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... City of Edinburgh (Mòr-bhaile Dhùn Èideann in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Edwardian period or Edwardian era in the United Kingdom is the period 1901 to 1910, the reign of King Edward VII. It is sometimes extended to include the period to the start of World War I in 1914 or even the end of the war in 1918. ...

At some point during its numerous refurbishments, a stone carving of an astrological horoscope was installed in the outer wall, on the southwest corner. The horoscope was reputedly done by John Napier for his brother. It can be seen in some pictures on the front wall, beneath the left-most stair tower, near the ground. Astrology refers to any of several systems, traditions or beliefs in which knowledge of the apparent positions of celestial bodies is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing knowledge about human affairs and events on Earth. ... In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the planets, other celestial bodies, and sensitive angles at the time of any event, such as a persons birth. ... John Napier For other people with the same name, see John Napier (disambiguation). ...

Design

Lauriston Castle was originally a four-story, stone L plan tower house, with a circular stair tower, with two storey angle turrets complete with gun loops. A Jacobean range was added in 1827, to convert it to a country manor. Muchalls Castle, Scotland L Plan Castle is straightforwardly enough a castle or towerhouse in the shape of an L, typically built in the 13th to the 17th century. ...

Ghost

Lauriston Castle, like so many other Scottish castles, is reputedly haunted. It is said that the sound of ghostly footsteps can be heard.

External Links

• Description of Lauriston with photo

• contains a picture of the rear view of the castle

• Lauriston Castle official website