Moubray House
Moubray House | ||
---|---|---|
OS grid reference NT 26084 73709 | | |
Built | c. 1477 | |
Built for | Robert Moubray | |
Restored | 1910, 1970s | |
Restored by | Nicholas Groves-Raines | |
Owner | Debra Stonecipher | |
Listed Building – Category A | ||
Moubray House, 51 and 53 High Street, is one of the oldest buildings on the Royal Mile, and one of the oldest occupied residential buildings in Edinburgh, Scotland. The façade dates from the early 17th century, built on foundations laid c. 1477.
The tenement is noted for its interiors, including a Renaissance board-and-beam painted ceiling discovered in 1999,[1] a plaster ceiling with exotic fruit and flower mouldings with the arms of Pringle of Galashiels (five escallops on a saltire) dated 1650 painted on the wall, and a wooden barrel-vaulted attic apartment which is expressed on the roofline.[2][3]
Notable people associated with the house include Scotland's first eminent portrait painter
Moubray House is designated a Category A listed building by Historic Scotland.
Description
Moubray House lies on the north side of the High Street, between Trunk's or Turing's Close and the John Knox House, near the site of Edinburgh's Netherbow Port, the main gate into Edinburgh before its demolition in 1764. On the pavement in front of the property survives the Netherbow Well, one of the wells which formerly supplied water for the Old Town.
In its origins, the tenement is a rare survivor of the
The Moubrays
In 1369, the three houses here all belonged to the Turing family, whose name is remembered as "Trunk's Close."[6] The present site was laid out c.1472-7, after reconstruction of the Netherbow Port close to "John Knox's House" by Alexander Bonkill. The street frontage of Moubray House retains the line of the earlier medieval High Street, being the last house east before the defensive narrowing at the gate. The "John Knox House" is on the site of one of four houses built in the new narrow passage to the gate.[7] During the 16th century the tenement was identified as Andrew Moubray's house in legal records. There were three Andrew Moubrays, although the original builder is called "Robert Moubray" in many sources.[8] The part of house at the back was probably built around 1529 by the third Andrew Moubray (III) and his wife Katrine Hoppar. The plots on Edinburgh High Street were called "lands." The buildings could be divided into "fore, mid, and back-lands." These could also be divided in storeys, leading to complicated patterns of ownership and tenancy.[9]
These were wealthy and well-connected merchant families, and the Moubrays owned other properties in Edinburgh. In 1494 Andrew Moubray (I) disputed the rent of another house he owned in Leith with his tenant the sailor
The Moubrays main business was textiles and Andrew Moubray (II) sold fine cloth to King James IV in 1496, accepting a gilt cup as payment.[14] Some of his mercantile activity in the Netherlands in the 1490s was recorded in the shipping Ledger of Andrew Halyburton, which records his trip to Middelburg and his cargoes carried by Andrew Barton. Andrew Moubray (II) exported wool and imported wine and furs. Laurence Taillefer, Andrew's partner as Customar of Edinburgh was married to Helen, the sister of Andrew Halyburton.[15] He was also joint owner of the 60 ton James of Leith and had a licence from Henry VII to sell fish in England in 1490.[16]
Andrew (II) married Jonet Halyburton, whose brothers James and David Halyburton were soldiers of the
Andrew Moubray (III) and the Hoppar family
Andrew Moubray (III) married Katrine Hoppar, daughter of William Hoppar and Elizabeth Carkettill. William Hoppar supplied a chest for the royal wardrobe on the day that Margaret Tudor arrived in Edinburgh.[20] Hoppar and Adam Carkettil were members of the religious confraternity of the Holy Blood, and witnessed the censure of the poet and priest Gavin Douglas when the mass on 27 February 1511 was not properly performed. His son, Adam Hopper was master of the Edinburgh Merchants Guild, established by "seal of cause" in 1518 when it was given the Holy Blood Aisle in St Giles Kirk. A banner of the confraternity made at this time, the "Fetternear banner" is kept at the National Museum of Scotland.[21] Adam Hoppar (d.1529), Katrine's brother, was married to Katherine Bellenden the seamstress of James V of Scotland.[22]
Katrine Hoppar had a relation, probably an aunt,
Archibald and Isobel lost the Forrester house, and the lands she held near Peebles when James V reached his majority and escaped from the Douglases. On 5 September 1528 the Earl of Angus shouted over the Tweed to the Earl of Northumberland's steward that if his family was forced into exile at Norham Castle, Isobel Hoppar would wait on his daughter Margaret Douglas. Isobel continued to serve Margaret as her "gentlewoman" at Berwick Castle. The English diplomat Thomas Magnus wrote that Isobel "totally ordoured" Kilspindie, and in turn Kilspindie and George Douglas had brought the Earl of Angus to his troubles.[28] Kilspindie's house was given to the new treasurer Robert Cairncross.[29]
Katrine's sister Janet was married to Hugh Rig of
Andrew Moubray (III) also had two properties on the opposite side of the road to Moubray House, one near a tennis court called a "caichpule", the other next to the house given to Kilspindie.[33] In 1541, Katherine Bellenden, now married to Oliver Sinclair, with John Tennent and other kin who served the royal household donated an adjacent property to the west of Moubray House for a chantry in St Giles and various charities.[34]
Also in 1541, Andrew Mowbray (III) travelled to Middelburg as commissioner for the city of Edinburgh to negotiate a trade agreement with
Andrew Moubray (III) died in 1545 in Flanders. His eldest son Edward Moubray was still a minor. John Danielstoun, Parson of Dysart was appointed guardian of Edward Moubray (who died young).[38] Andrew had left some possessions in Veere and Middelburg, which were passed to his executor there, Andrew Cupar.[39] During the war of the Rough Wooing, his widow Katrine Hoppar (died 1551) supplied iron from Gdańsk for entrenching tools sent to Jedburgh in February 1549.[40] In 1550 she was refunded money that she had contributed for the "Raid of the Borrowmure", an abandoned military action planned for the Siege of Haddington.[41]
Robert Moubray, John Knox, and the Pringles
Robert Moubray, a son of Andrew (III) and Katrine Hoppar inherited the house when he came of age. In the 1560s he let another property, which he had inherited from his grandmother Elizabeth Carkettill, to the town council for the use of
Within this other house, the Town Council provided John Knox with a "warm study of deals" against the winter of 1561.[45] In March 1565, Robert Moubray exchanged the house occupied by John Knox with the lawyer Robert Scott for a loan.[46]
Robert had a baker as his tenant in the shop of another house on the south side of the street.[47]
During the "Lang Siege" of
17th and 18th-century
The stone Royal Mile
The painter
Recent restorations and future plans
Moubray House was restored by the Cockburn Association in 1910, and in the 1970s by the architect Nicholas Groves-Raines. In the mid-1900s, Moubray House was the home and shop of an antiques dealer, Esta Henry.[57] An American benefactor, Debra Stonecipher acquired the various sub-divided flats and further restored the house and gave it to the nation, in the care of Historic Scotland in 2012.[58]
See also
Notes
- ^ Bath, Michael, Renaissance Painting in Scotland, NMS (2003), p.245
- ^ RCAMS Inventory of Monuments in Edinburgh (HMSO: Edinburgh, 1951), p. 96.
- ^ "Edinburgh's Moubray House to be gifted to Historic Scotland". 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ RCAMS Inventory of Monuments in Edinburgh (HMSO: Edinburgh, 1951), p. 95.
- ^ Bath, Michael, Renaissance Decorative Painting in Scotland (Edinburgh, 2003), p. 245.
- ^ Laing, David, ed., Registrum cartarum Ecclesie Sancti Egidii de Edinburgh (Bannatyne Club, 1859), p. 278
- ^ Smith, Donald, John Knox House (John Donald, 1996), pp. 3-5: Charters and other Documents relating to Edinburgh (Scottish Burgh Records Society, 1871), pp.nxiv-v, 134-5 no. XLVII, orders for fortifying Edinburgh, 1472.
- ^ RCAMS Inventory of Monuments in Edinburgh (Edinburgh, 1951), pp. 94, 123.
- ^ Miller, Robert, John Knox and the Town Council of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, 1898), pp. 75-77.
- ^ Acts of the Lords Auditors of Causes and Complaints (Edinburgh, 1839), p. 187.
- ^ Marwick, J. D., ed., Extracts Records of the Burgh Edinburgh, vol. 1 (1869)
- ^ Burnett, George, ed., Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, 1480-1487, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1886), p. 213.
- ^ Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1882), nos. 1400, 1660, 2120: Durkan, John, Protocol Book of John Foular, SRS New Series 10 (Edinburgh, 1985), p. 156 no.483, in 1533 Andrew (III), grandson of Andrew (I), as patron replaced Chaplain John Harkness with John Porteous.
- ^ Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol.1 (1877), pp.15, 271
- ^ Innes, Cosmo, ed., Ledger of Andrew Halyburton (Edinburgh, 1867), pp. 25-6, 89-91, account of "Andrew Moubray younger". Andrew Halyburton died in 1507/8, Protocol Book John Foular (Edinburgh, 1941), no. 423.
- ^ Bain, Joseph, ed., Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland, vol. 4 (1888), p. 318 no. 1565
- ^ Robert Kerr Hannay & Denys Hay, Letters of James V (HMSO, 1954), p. 403.
- ^ Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1908), p. 59 no.416.
- ^ James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 5 (Edinburgh, 1903), p. 305.
- ^ Accounts of the Treasurer, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1900), p. 391.
- ^ Marwick, ed., Extracts Records Burgh of Edinburgh, vol. 1 (1882), pp. 130, 186 seal of cause: The Holy Blood Aisle and the altar of St Ninian, where Andrew (I) endowed a chaplain, were adjacent spaces in St. Giles Kirk, see Hay, George, 'Late medieval St Giles',PSAS (1975/6), pp. 255, 251.
- ^ Register of the Great Seal, 1513-1546 (Edinburgh, 1883), p .548 no. 2394: Durkan, John, ed., Protocol Book of Thomas Foular, SRS New Series 10 (Edinburgh, 1985), pp. 34 no.98, 49 no.141
- ^ Cosmo Innes, Ledger of Andrew Halyburton, (Edinburgh 1867), pp. 211-212, (William Hoppar, Katrine's father, was Richard Hoppar's son)
- ^ The families are linked in a transaction recorded in the Protocol Book of John Foular, SRS (Edinburgh, 1941) nos. 548-9, Katrine's father William Hoppar, Isobel's husband John Murray of Barony and Adam Otterburn husband of Eufamia Moubray were witnesses on 31 March 1509.
- ^ Letters & Papers Henry VIII, vol.2 (1864), p.205 no.779: Protocol Book of John Foular, SRS (1941), no.858: Godfrey, A. M. Civil Justice in Renaissance Scotland (Brill, 2009), p. 186 record of Isobel Hoppar reserving her Blakbarony liferent.
- ^ Marshall, Rosalind Kay, Virgins and Viragos: Women in Scotland (Collins, 1983) p. 37.
- ^ McLeod & Wood, ed., Protocol Book of John Foular (Edinburgh, 1898), pp. 237-8 no.273: Durkan, John, ed., Protocol Book of John Foular, 1528-1534, SRS New Series 10 (Edinburgh, 1985), p. 2 no. 2: Protocol Book Foular, 1514-1528 (SRS, 1941): Register of the Great Seal, 1513-1546 (Edinburgh, 1883), no. 356 cf. no. 649
- ^ State Papers Henry Eighth, vol. iv (1836), p.509-510, 539-40, 567: Letters & Papers Henry VIII, vol.4 (1875), no.4709: Cameron, Jamie, James V, (1998) p.36-7 & fn.24, calls her "Jonet" and Isobel "Hoppringle" from the same source which does not name Kilspindie's wife.
- ^ Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland vol.1, nos.4077, 4082: Register Great Seal, 1513-1546, (1883), p.144 no.649: As a forfeited person, Isobel might not be listed as an heir in later contracts, but was "relict" of Kilspindie in 1536.
- ^ Calderwood, David, History of the Kirk, vol.1, Wodrow Society (1842), p.246: Buchanan, George, History of Scotland, book 15, chapter 48.
- ^ Protocol Book of Gilbert Grote, 1552-1573, SRS (1914), p.71 no.279, Elizabeth Hoppar was a widow in 1566 when her daughter Isobel Tennent married a merchant.
- ^ Laing, David, ed., Registrum cartarum Ecclesie Sancti Egidii de Edinburgh (Bannatyne Club, 1859), p. 234: William Hoppar, Isobel's husband John Murray of Barony and Adam Otterburn were witnesses to the handover of a property on 31 March 1509, Protocol John Foular, SRS (1941) nos. 548-9.
- ^ Durkan, John ed., Protocol book of John Foular, SRS New Series 10 (1985), nos.128, 262, 491
- ^ Laing, David, ed., Registrum cartarum Ecclesie Sancti Egidii de Edinburgh, Bannatyne Club, (1859) pp.246-253 no.141Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1513-1546 (Edinburgh, 1883) p. 597 no. 2600.
- ^ Denys Hay, Letters of James V (Edinburgh, HMSO, 1954), p. 423.
- ^ Yair, James, Account of Scottish Trade in the Netherlands (1776), pp. 107, 110
- ^ H. J. Smit, Bronnen tot de geschiedenis van den handel met Engeland, Schotland en Ierland 1150-1585 ('s-Gravenhage, 1942), p. 572 no. 731: Smit (1942), pp. 586-8
- ^ Register of the Privy Seal, vol. 3 (Edinburgh, 1936) p. 219 no. 1418
- ^ H. J. Smit, Bronnen tot de geschiedenis van den handel met Engeland, Schotland en Ierland 1150-1585 ('s-Gravenhage, 1942), p. 667 no. 797
- ^ Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 9 (Edinburgh, 1911), p. 283, February 1548/9 "Danskyn irne" for "schule irnis."
- ^ Adam, Robert, ed., Edinburgh Records, Burgh Accounts, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 4, 9.
- ^ Adam, Robert, ed., Edinburgh records, Burgh Accounts, vol.1 (1899), pp. 343, 457, 458.
- ^ Miller, Robert, John Knox and the Town Council of Edinburgh, (1898), p.78-9
- ^ Miller, Robert, 'Where did John Knox live in Edinburgh?', in Proceedings Society Antiquaries Scotland, vol. 33 (1899), p. 87.
- ^ Miller, PSAS (1899), p. 84-86 see external links
- ^ Sanderson, Margaret H. B., A Kindly Place? (Tuckwell: East Linton, 2002), p. 199 citing NAS Register of Deeds RD1/8 fol.1
- ^ Protocol Book of Mr Gilbert Grote, 1552-1573 (SRS: Edinburgh, 1914), p. 49 no. 212.
- ^ Marwick, J. D., ed., Extracts Records Burgh Edinburgh, 1573-1589 (1882), p.1
- ^ Grant, Francis, ed., Commissariot Record of Edinburgh: Register of Testaments, part 1 (1897), p.48
- ^ Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1886) p. 560 no. 2135, 2 May 1573
- ^ D. Masson, ed., Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 5 (Edinburgh 1882), pp. 236-8.
- ^ Life of Andrew Melville, Works of Rev. McCrie (Edinburgh, 1856), p. 498 fn: J. Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry, vol. 3 (London, 1850), p. 264.
- ^ RCAMS Inventory of Monuments in Edinburgh (HMSO: Edinburgh, 1951), p. 96.
- ^ Hall, Robert, The History of Galasheils (Galasheils, 1898), pp. 24-5, 31-2
- ^ see Clan Pringle Association website: Nisbet, Alexander, System of Heraldry, vol. 1 (repr. 1984), p. 360, & plate 14: Carre & Tait, Border memories, or, Sketches of prominent men and women of the Border (James Thin, 1876), p. 318
- ^ Robert Taylor Skinner, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle to Holyroodhouse (1928), p. 48: Wilmot Harrison, Memorable Edinburgh Houses (Edinburgh, 1893) p. 46.
- ISBN 9781902669731.
1953 esther henry.
- ^ "Agreement sees Moubray House safeguarded for the future". Historic Scotland. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
References
- Scottish Renaissance Interiors, Moubray House Press (1987), cover, & p. 79, picture of attic interior.
External links
- Moubray House, record and pictures from RCAHMS Canmore
- Moubray House, higher resolution pictures at Scotlands Places
- Historic Environment Scotland. "51-55 (odd nos) High Street, Moubray House (Category A Listed Building) (LB29034)". Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- Ledger of Andrew Halyburton, HM Register House (1867) Import account of Andrew Moubray (II) younger, pp. 89–91
- Miller, Robert, 'Where did John Knox live in Edinburgh?', in Proceedings Society Antiquaries Scotland, vol.33 (1899) 80-115
- Yair, Thomas, Staple Contract between the Royal Burrows of Scotland and Campvere in Zealand, (1749), trade agreement, Andrew Moubray (III), pp.xi-xii.
- Yair, Thomas, Account of Scottish Trade in the Netherlands, (1776), trade agreement Andrew Moubray (III), 1541, pp. 105–117
- The Fetternear Banner, used by the Confraternity of the Holy Blood in St Giles, c.1520. NMS