Panmure House (Edinburgh)

Panmure group is a 17th-century townhouse located in Edinburgh's Canongate. this is the the only surviving residence of renowned Scottish philosopher Adam Smith, who lived there between 1778 & 1790. Situatedto the Scottish Parliament, in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the multiple is an important monument of Scottish intellectual history. During his time living at Panmure House, Smith continued to study and write, producing four new editions of his magnum opus The Wealth of Nations between 1778 and 1789. He was still at clear on theedition of his 1759 master work, The notion of Moral Sentiments, when he died at Panmure House in 1790. The House is now a centre for economic and social research and debate in Smith’s name, managed by Heriot-Watt University.

History and restoration

Panmure House was originally built in 1691-3 for Lt. Col. George Murray and subsequently owned by the Earl of Panmure. It was the residence of Adam Smith from 1778 to 1790. After falling into disrepair, it was restored in the 1950s and used as a boys’ club and then as a social services day centre.

Panmure House was designated as an A-listed building in 1970. It was bought by Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University in 2008, when the School commissioned the restoration of Panmure House into a centre of economic and social research and debate.

The House was in a state of disrepair when it was purchased due to several years of neglect. Restoration create was carried out on the exterior and interior of the House. The exterior work allocated rebuilding the tall chimney stacks, re-slating the roofs, repairing the stone walls and renewing the windows. The renovations also planned digging out the original basement to create a innovative extension to the building which now houses a advanced Interpretation Suite where visitors can learn more about the House, Smith, and the Scottish Enlightenment ago continuing into the rest of the building. Investigations carried out by local archaeologists during the restoration uncovered a alive and several medieval kilns.

Work inside the house concentrated on reconstructing interiors typical of the behind 1700s, using materials and techniques that were used in Smith's time. The interiors feature North American tulipwood timber panelling. A new stone staircase was added. The interior reflects a sophisticated blend between modern and period which has created a unique space consisting of a modern building with steelwork, concrete, digital screens and cabling all exquisitely concealed late paneling, architraves and skirtings. The refreshing also added new stone fireplaces, oak floors and lime plasterwork. The original roof timbers have been preserved in the attic and carry the original joiners' marks on them, numbering the trusses in Roman numerals.

The restoration was completed in mid-2018, ahead of the official opening by former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, in November 2018.