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Colinton Road, EH10

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Merchiston Tower.

Also known as Merchiston Castle, has stood in the area since the mid 1400s. The castle, and the land surrounding it, belonged to Alexander Napier, a landowner and Provost of Edinburgh who gave the Napier University the was John Napier, the 8th Laird of Merchiston and the inventor of logarithms, he was born there in 1550.

Although it was originally intended as a country house for the family, the political turbulence of the 16th century meant that it soon had a more strategic purpose, with some walls as much as six feet thick – and it was frequently under siege. During restoration in the 1960s, a 26-pound cannonball was found embedded in the Tower, thought to date from the struggle in 1572 between Mary, Queen of Scots, and supporters of her son, James VI.

These days, the L-shaped tower forms the heart of Napier’s Merchiston campus which is home to the creative, computing and engineering students.

I wouldn't mind a wee look inside where there is a painted ceiling which dates back to 1581. The painting had originally been part of the ceiling at Prestongrange House until the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works and the National Trust had it removed and preserved. The artwork is grotesque - and no, that’s not a judgement on its artistic merit. ‘Grotesque’ means ‘of the Grotto’, inspired by the extravagant ancient Roman decorative art that was discovered at the end of the fifteenth century and then enjoyed a revival as a popular style across Europe. It’s likely that this example was done by a foreign painter, although it’s unclear who that might be.

Tours can be arranged to see the interior, maybe I need to enquire how to go about it.

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