Lady Stairs House was built in 1622 for Sir William Gray of Pittendrum, a successful merchant. At that time it was common for the wealthy to live tucked away down one of Edinburgh’s many passageways, away from the noise of the main streets.
Sir William’s fortune turned, however during the civil war in 1640s. He was fined and later imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle for corresponding with the Scottish Royalist, James Graham. A further ordeal occurred in 1645 when Willam Gray’s daughter died of the plague.
These events were to hasten Gray’s death, which took place in 1648. His widow, Geida, survived him and continued to live in the house for many years. Eventually the close leading to the house became known as Lady Gray’s Close in her honor. It kept that name until the 18th century when Lady Stair moves into the house, and the close was re-named after her.
By the 1890s, Lady Stair’s House was in poor condition, and ready for demolition. It was saved by Lord Rosenberg, a distant relative of Sir William Gray, who bought the house in 1893 and commissioned George Shaw to restore it.
Today Lady Stair’s House is home to the Writers’ Museum, with displays celebrating authors such as Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson.
It’s open Monday - Saturday and admission is free.
