Edinburgh’s oldest townhouse to be restored

A 15th-century property thought to be the oldest townhouse in Scotland’s capital city is being restored by developers.

The Advocate’s Close property, in Edinburgh’s Old Town, is part of a wider £45 million regeneration project of the narrow back-street, which is just off the Royal Mile. It includes 29 serviced apartments, a 208-room hotel, three restaurant spaces and office accommodation in 11 different buildings.

Developer the Chris Stewart Group is overseeing the revamp and they aim to open up some of the Old Town’s hidden lanes and turn them into a leisure and business destination.

The townhouse pre-dates 1490 and was once owned by two of the city’s wealthiest merchants, Andrew Bertram and Clement Cor, before becoming a brewery temporarily.

Chris Stewart, chief executive of the Chris Stewart Group, said: “Advocate’s Close is a labour of love with every detail meticulously planned and executed.

“We have designed ways to create vistas from the top of the close out and over Princes Street Gardens beyond.

“The apartments and restaurants rise above the rooftops to offer a unique 360-degree aspect of the city using materials that will stand the test of modern times and tastes.”

The building’s stone walls, original fireplaces and wall panels and beams are being restored as part of the project. Local historian Robin Tait said: “Andrew Bertram was a wealthy merchant involved in the import-export trade and he was recorded as carrying out his business here.”