A 17th-Century Merchant Home in Edinburgh Was Saved from Ruin. It Can Now Be Yours for $5 Million.
- Lamb's House, a rare surviving merchant home from the early 1600s in Leith, Scotland, underwent a painstaking five-year restoration led by architects Nicholas Groves-Raines and Kristin Hannesdottir, revealing its original character and grandeur.
Just steps from Leith's historic harbor stands Lamb's House, one of Scotland's rare surviving merchant homes from the early 1600s. Built in 1610, when Leith was a thriving, fortified port independent from Edinburgh, the four-story stone house is a striking reminder of a bygone era; its crow-stepped gables, leaded windows, and massive 17th-century fireplaces speak of centuries spent at the center of Scotland's maritime trade.
Named after Andro Lamb, a descendant of the merchant who welcomed Mary, Queen of Scots, to Leith in 1561, the building originally contained six shops on the ground floor with apartments above, catering to Edinburgh's elite traders. Like many ancient buildings, over the years, Lamb's House fell into decline. Fortunately, it was rescued from total ruin in the mid-20th century by a group dedicated preservationists, including the Marquess of Bute and architect Robert Hurd, before eventually being gifted to the National Trust for Scotland.
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The home has Baltic pine beam ceilings and massive fireplaces, some that stretch nearly 10 feet wide.
It wasn't until 2010, however, when architects Nicholas Groves-Raines and Kristín Hannesdóttir—both experts in historic conservation—acquired the property that its full revival began. What followed was a painstaking five-year restoration that peeled back modern alterations and carefully revealed the home's original character.
The architects removed unsympathetic additions, restored the massive Baltic pine ceiling beams, and brought back the grandeur of the enormous fireplaces, some nearly 10 feet wide. They added an extension to the main house, along with a Renaissance-inspired pavilion, each thoughtfully designed to complement the historic fabric of the property without overpowering it.
The transformation of the outdoor space is perhaps the most remarkable. Where a bland concrete yard once stood, a pretty walled garden was created, inspired by 17th-century parterre design. High stone walls enclose symmetrical quatrefoil flower beds, hornbeam columns trained into elegant block forms, and a curated palette of pastel roses and silvery foliage.
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The outdoor space was transformed from a concrete expanse into a formal walled garden.
The three-story pavilion, nestled in the garden's corner with three bedrooms, a couple of baths and a kitchen, is a light-filled modern space with a distinctive curved roof and classical detailing. A separate three-story annex attached to the house with contemporary office and studio spaces adds flexibility for creative or professional use. Altogether, there are six and potentially many more bedrooms and nine baths.
Leith itself has been reborn over the last decades. Once a gritty port town, it now thrives as Edinburgh's creative and culinary hub, home to Michelin-starred restaurants, independent shops, and artisan markets.
"Lamb's House is not merely a remarkable home—it is an enduring symbol of Scotland's architectural brilliance and cultural continuity," says Ben Fox, residential director at Savills Edinburgh, who holds the £3.75 million (about $5 million) listing. "Every stone, beam, and bloom speaks to the spirit of Leith. To offer this property to the market is to invite someone to become the next steward of a truly exceptional chapter in Scotland's history."
Click here to see more photos of the Edinburgh home.
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