£40,000 secures future of historic Royal Mile building

THE future of one of the most historic buildings on the Royal Mile is set to be guaranteed after new funds were secured to allow a renovation of its roof.

Edinburgh World Heritage has pledged nearly 40,000 towards the cost of special conservation work on the roof of the A-listed Acheson House.

The building, which dates back to 1633, was recently added to the Scottish Civic Trust's register of "at risk" buildings.

The funding will be used to make a new roof with stone slates from Carmyllie in Angus, and the city council intends to make the building part of a new "museum hub" vision that will see the Museum of Edinburgh expanded.

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city's culture leader, said: "We are very grateful to Edinburgh World Heritage for awarding us this grant for Acheson House."

Built in 1633 for Sir Archibald Acheson, King Charles I's Secretary of State for Scotland, the building later became a brothel, when it was known as the "Cock and Trumpet".