Queensberry House
 Queensberry House is a 17th century Grade-A listed building. It has been rennovated and integrated into the Parliamentary complex through Enric Miralles' unique design.
Externally it has been restored and returned to its original height. Although it keeps the appearance of a traditional Edinburgh building, it has been strengthened throughout with a concrete and steel structure.
Queensberry House contains the office of the Presiding Officer , two Deputy Presiding Officers, the Parliament's Chief Executive and other staff.
Design and Restoration
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Excavation of internal walls at Queensberry House |
Archaeology work
During the winter months of 1999/2000 specialist contractors removed the 19th century plaster throughout the building. This work was carried out by archaeologists, Addyman and Kay, to identify and record any remaining historical features within the building. In the spring of 2000 the existing external render was removed and archaeologists carried out a survey of the stonework uncovered. Work was carried out to stabilise the structure and to remove non-historic elements of the building, which would not be retained in its refurbished form.
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Queensberry House behind Garden Lobby Roof |
In conjunction with this work the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments for Scotland (RCAHMS) conducted a full survey of the interior and exterior of the building. The survey included a full photographic record of the internal walls.
Walls
Walls have been strengthened and secondary glazing added to meet security requirements. Where stonework is of a high quality it has been left exposed. The remaining walls are covered in plasterboard and painted. The external walls have been re-harled and lime-washed.
Floor
The original timber flooring has been removed and replaced with steel beams and concrete floors. A mixture of floor coverings have been used in the building including carpet, vinyl, oak and Caithness stone.
History of Queensberry House |
c 1667
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Queensberry House was first built for Dame Margaret Douglas of Balmakellie. |
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c 1680
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The house is bought by Charles Maitland, Lord Hatton, who made internal alterations and added a look-out tower. |
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c 1689
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It is later bought by William Douglas, the first Duke of Queensberry. |
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1695 |
Inherited by James Douglas, the second Duke of Queensberry, the house is extended to the west, with added pavilions at each end of the garden front and a new entrance is created from the Canongate. |
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1707 |
The second Duke of Queensberry was influential in the abolition of the pre-1707 Scottish Parliament, and during the public disturbances around that time it was reported that the building’s most notorious incident took place. While the Duke attempted to placate the crowds his son roasted a servant boy on a spit: the oven is still visible, located within Parliament’s Allowances Office. |
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1801 |
The house is bought by James Aitcheson, who strips the building of all its architectural fittings. |
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1803 |
It is used as a public hospital. |
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1808 |
An additional storey is added and the house becomes an army barracks. |
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1815 |
It is intermittently used as a hospital. |
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1833 |
It becomes a House of Refuge. |
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1945 |
It is used as a geriatric hospital. |
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1996 |
The hospital closes and it is bought by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, who owned the rest of the surrounding site at that time. |
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1997 |
The house is finally acquired by the Scottish Office for the new Scottish Parliament building. |
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