City observatory house set for refurbishment

Permission to lease an iconic 18th century city building atop Calton Hill for residential use has been granted by Edinburgh Council’s Culture and Leisure Committee.

James Craig House, also known as the Old Observatory House, was designed by its namesake. Craig was the architect who famously won the competition to plan Edinburgh's New Town in 1766 at only 22 years old.

Councillor Deidre Brock, culture and leisure convenor, said: "The Old Observatory House is probably the finest surviving building by the architect James Craig, occupying a stunning position on Calton Hill overlooking Edinburgh's Old Town, and is now preserved for future generations.”

Lynne Halfpenny, head of culture and sport at Edinburgh council, told The Journal that they now intend “to progress negotiations with the Vivat Trust”.

The Vivat Trust is a charity that works to renovate neglected and dilapidated listed historic buildings of architectural, industrial and historical interest.

According to Alice Yates, of Vivat Trust: “The building would make suitable short stay holiday accommodation.”

The reasoning behind this is that the “letting out of the building as holiday accommodation guarantees income for its maintenance".

For a short time following its construction it was used for 'popular observing' rather than for scientific means. The building then was used as accommodation for astronomers and has not been open to the public since.

During the 1980s, the house fell into disrepair and by 2002 it was on Historic Scotland’s 'Building at Risk Register'. In 2007 the building began the process of renovation.

The plans for the original building were drawn up in 1775, but only the gothic tower had been completed before money ran out in 1777. The building was not finished until 23 years after Craig’s death, under the supervision of William Henry Playfair.

Amongst the other designs accredited to James Craig is the layout of Princes Street, George Street and Queens street in parallel, with St Andrew’s square and Charlotte Square at each end.