Â鶹APP

Top 10 Facts about John Knox House

Looking down the Royal Mile to John Knox House.  Photo by

John Knox House is located in Edinburgh’s Royal Miles and is popularly well known for its tourist attraction.

It is unquestionably one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh put up in the mid-16th century.

It is a three-storey building which was owned by a protestant advocate, John Knox who inhabited the house during the 16th century and lived there till his death.

In between the first floor and the ground floor of the house, there lies a structure with Moses kneeling on top of a sundial.

The building is currently open to the general public, to see how people lived 400 years ago.

Below are ten facts about John Knox’s house since its construction in 1470.

1. John Knox House is a Historic Site

John Knox House, Edinburgh, Scotland. cirka 1890-1899.

John Knox House is the oldest building on the Royal Mile that is still surviving to date.

The house has been linked with mass dramatic and stormy times in Scottish history such as the abdication of Mary, the queen of Scots during the Scottish reformation.

2.Materials Used to Build the House Date Back to the 15th Century

The unique structure of the house is pleasant at the moment because the materials that were used date back to 1470.

The ground floor contains the remains of medieval booths that were used as rented shops.

The house has an Oak room on the top floor which was built with wood panelling and its ceiling is painted.

It is on the exterior part of the house and is atmospheric giving the house a great image.

Timber galleries used projected from the first floor to the stairs and are easy to navigate within.

The figure of Moses kneeling on top of a sundial is located at the corner of the house between the first floor and the ground.

3. The House First Written Record was in 1525

Edinburgh, John Knox House, facade.

The house was first mentioned in the archives from a document of 1525.

The document recorded that the house was the first property of Walter Reidpath.

The house was inherited by his son John Arres.

He was to leave the house with his daughter Mariota. In 1556 Mariota was married to James Mossman and the husband acquired the building and decided to refashion it.

At the time, Mossman was a devoted Catholic believer and a supporter of Queen Mary.

In 1573, Queen Mary and her supporters were arrested which led to Mossman losing all his possessions and his life as well.

However, the house was spared from demolition because of its connection with John Knox.

He was a Scottish reformer who used to lean on a small window on the first floor preaching to the people on the streets.

4. John Knox House tells about his Life

Later in 1850, the house was due for demolition.

The Church of Scotland however stood again the demolition and rescued the house so that it was turned into a museum and focus on narrating the life and times of the most important figure during the Scottish reformation.

In 1853 the house underwent concerted restoration and was opened as a museum run by the free and united churches of Scotland.

An exhibition which includes memorabilia with his life story and his writing is situated on the first floor.

5. The House was turned into a Beautiful Museum

John Knox House, Royal Mile.  Photo by Wikimedia commons

Over the years, the building has been refurbished and restored to maintain the history of Scotland as well as tell about John Knox.

In 1984 the house was restored. More paintings and decorations have been placed in the house to make it beautiful and a tourist attraction centre.

Today, the museum is well maintained and perfectly showcases the house and those that lived in paying attention to the reformation of Scotland.

Currently, the house is considered part of the new Scottish Storytelling Centre.

6. It was named after John Knox

The house that originally belonged to the family of goldsmiths named Mossman was renamed, John Knox.

Even though it is believed that he rarely stayed or visited the house, it was associated with him.

This association led to the naming of the house after his death while he was living there.

His influence and reputation as a protestant reformer led to the pardoning of this house for demolition.

7. It is the Oldest Building in Royal Miles

The house is said to be certainly the oldest house in Royal Miles, built in the mid – 16th century.

However, some of its parts are dated back to the 1970s. The evidence is seen from the ground floor which contains the remains of medieval.

It also contains wood and painted ceiling dating from the early 17th century.

8. The House has a Small Window where John Knox Preached from

John Knox’s house was fitted with a small window on the first floor of the house.

History has it that John Knox used the small window to preach to the people on the street.

This is what led him to be associated with the house and the fact that he stayed there for almost three months before he died in the same house.

9. It is the only Surviving Medieval Mansion in Edinburgh

Looking down the Royal Mile to John Knox House. Photo by Wikimedia. 

John Knox House is the only original surviving medieval house in Edinburgh and on the Royal Miles.

Its structures, layout and materials used to make the house are original from the ancient.

The house contains evidence of the wooden gallery and the hand-painted ceiling.

10. John Knox House faced Demolition Threats

Since the death of John Knox, the house faced demolition threats twice.

Those that were against his mission wanted the house demolished but the Scottish Church came to its aid.

The church bought the house in its name preventing the demolition.

It is currently an important cultural treasure which is associated with the turbulence of Scottish history.

John Knox’s house holds Scottish history. The fact that it is the oldest building makes it a tourist attraction.

The renovation and refurbishing have also facilitated maintaining the history of the most important feature in the reformation of Scottish history.

The paints date back to the past centuries making it a suitable place to view history.

The addition of more paints also makes it so beautiful and pleasing place to be.