Edinburgh, Cowgate, Cardinal Beaton's House
Bishops Palace (16th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, Cowgate, Cardinal Beaton's House
Classification Bishops Palace (16th Century)
Canmore ID 52530
Site Number NT27SE 65
NGR NT 26070 73530
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/52530
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SE 65 2606 7352.
'Cardinal Beaton's House": stood on the N side of the Cowgate, between Blackfriars' Wynd and Todrick's Wynd. The house originally belonged to James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow from 1509-1522, and thereafter to the Bishop of St Andrews until 1546. James V lodged here in 1528.
RCAHMS 1951.
(NT2606 7352) Built by James Beaton in the early 16th century.... Palace of Archbishop Beaton - 16th century (Site of).
Information from Dr C A Malcolm, Signet librarian, Edinburgh to OS.
A stone panel in wall here states "Near this spot stood Cardinal Beaton's House". The site is now occupied by a modern building.
Visited by OS (J D) 29 December 1953.
NMRS REFERENCE:
Edinburgh, Cardinal Beaton's House was demolished 1867. Information from NMRS Demolitions catalogue.
Publication Account (1951)
"Cardinal Beaton's House," Cowgate.
This building stood on the N. side of the Cowgate, between Blackfriars' Wynd and Todrick's Wynd. It was of quadrilateral plan, being built about a courtyard to which entrance was obtained through an arched passage opening upon Blackfriars' Wynd. The whole of the ground-floor was vaulted, and access to the first, or main, floor was by a broad flight of steps which rose from the entrance passage. On the Cowgate side there was a hexagonal turret, supported on a stone pillar (1). The house originally belonged to James Beaton (2), Archbishop of Glasgow from 1509 to 1522 and thereafter Archbishop of St. Andrews until 1546, whose coat of arms remained visible at the entrance in Blackfriars' Wynd long after the building had become ruinous (3). According to tradition, Archbishop Beaton was succeeded in the ownership of the house by his nephew, the Cardinal.
In 1520 this house was the meeting place of the Hamiltons, who, with the Archbishop's assistance, plotted to massacre the Douglases - a plot which culminated in the "Cleanse the Causeway" fight between the. two factions. James V lodged in it in 1528, and in 1561 a banquet was given there by the Town in honour of Mary, Queen of Scots (4).
RCAHMS 1951
(1) Wilson, Memorials, ii, pp. 98 ff. (2) Pitscottie, Historie and Cronicles of Scotland, ii, p. 313. (3) Wilson, loc. cit. (4) Diurnal, p. 71.
