Huntly House: The Speaking Stones of the Canongate
Dating from 1570, Huntly House is the most complete survivor of the flamboyant timber-fronted merchant residences that once lined the Royal Mile. Built for wealthy burgess and merchant George Acheson, the mansion acquired its name when George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, leased the premises during the reign of King Charles I. Today, its yellow lime-harled timber gables, projecting plaster dormers, and Latin stone inscriptions stand as a proud bastion of Canongate history.
The Historic Front Facade
The street front on Canongate features three projecting timber dormer gables resting upon a massive stone arcade. Carved directly into the sandstone lintels are three famous Latin inscriptions: 'Spes Altera Vitae' (Hope of Another Life), 'Te Deum Laudamus' (Thee, O God, We Praise), and 'Constanti Pectore Resiste' (Resist with a Resolute Heart). These carved tablets earned Huntly House its historic moniker: 'The Speaking House'.
- Traditional Scottish lime-wash harling in vibrant ocher-yellow
- Original 16th-century molded timber window frames and stone corbels
- Direct architectural dialogue with the 1591 Canongate Tolbooth opposite
The Secluded Cobblestone Courtyard
Walk through the stone pend of Huntly House into the quiet cobblestone court of Bakehouse Close. Surrounded by stone external forestairs, wrought-iron wall anchors, and cantilevered timber galleries, this secluded close is so authentically preserved that television directors chose it as the setting for Jamie Fraser's 18th-century print shop in Season 3 of Outlander.
- Original 16th-century stone forestair and wooden handrails
- The celebrated Outlander print shop filming archway
- Peaceful garden retreat away from the busy Royal Mile foot traffic
10 Treasures of Edinburgh's Civic History
From the sacred National Covenant parchment and Greyfriars Bobby's collar to Deacon Brodie's secret cabinet and James Craig's New Town map. Select any relic below for historical and curatorial analysis.
The Original National Covenant of 1638
One of the most consequential documents in Scottish and British constitutional history. Written on thick vellum parchment, this sacred manifesto rejected King Charles I's authoritarian attempt to impose an English-style Book of Common Prayer and Anglican bishops upon the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Signed by thousands of weeping Scots of all ranks in Greyfriars Kirkyard, it sparked the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and led directly to the English Civil War.
“Look at the crowded margins and bottom hem of the parchment; when the parchment filled completely, desperate signatories squeezed their initials into microscopic corners, some famously signing in their own blood.”
The foundational charter of Scottish Presbyterian democracy, religious sovereignty, and civil resistance to royal absolutism.
The Real History of Greyfriars Bobby
Beyond the sentimental Victorian children's stories and Hollywood films lies the authentic historical record of Greyfriars Bobby, documented through official Edinburgh Town Council minutes and preserved here in the Museum of Edinburgh.
The 14-Year Kirkyard Vigil (1858–1872)
When night watchman John Gray died of tuberculosis in February 1858, his faithful Skye terrier Bobby refused to leave his master's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard. For fourteen years through freezing Scottish snowstorms and biting autumn winds, Bobby slept beside John Gray's tombstone, leaving only at the sound of the One O'Clock Gun to receive his daily meal from John Traill at the coffee house on Candlemaker Row.
Lord Provost Sir William Chambers' Rescue
In 1867, a strict new licensing law decreed that all unlicensed dogs in Edinburgh would be rounded up and destroyed. Because Bobby had no legal owner to buy his license, he faced execution. Sir William Chambers, Lord Provost of Edinburgh and founder of W. & R. Chambers publishers, paid the license fee from the city purse and commissioned a special collar inscribed with Bobby's name to grant him official city protection.
Three Floors of Historic Chambers
Navigate the labyrinthine corridors, stone vaults, and timber-fronted gables of Huntly House.
16th-Century Foundations, Silver & Craft Guilds
Enter from Canongate into the massive stone foundations of Huntly House. Wander through low-beamed chambers showcasing centuries of exquisite Edinburgh silver, glassblowing ovens, and the civic independence of the Canongate burgh.
Key Highlights:
- Original 1570 Stone Fireplaces & Barrel Vaults
- Royal Burgh of Canongate Regalia & Halberds
- Edinburgh Hallmarked Goldsmiths Silver Collection
- Canongate & Leith Cut-Glass Decanters
- Royal Mile Closes 3D Architectural Scale Model
- Secluded Cobblestone Rear Courtyard (Outlander Filming Location)
The National Covenant & Greyfriars Bobby
The emotional core of the museum. Stand in reverent awe before the fragile sheepskin parchment that sparked the Covenanting wars, then gaze upon the genuine collar worn by Scotland's most famous and devoted dog.
Key Highlights:
- The Original 1638 National Covenant on Vellum
- Greyfriars Bobby's Brass-Studded Collar & Feeding Bowl
- Lord Provost Sir William Chambers Civic Presentation
- Portraits of Covenanter Martyrs and Royalist Foes
- Timber-Paneled 17th-Century Merchant Parlor
Enlightenment Planning & Old Town Mysteries
Ascend into the timber-fronted gables overlooking the Canongate. Marvel at the visionary geometric map that built the Georgian New Town and ponder the split personality of Deacon Brodie.
Key Highlights:
- James Craig's 1767 Original Hand-Drawn New Town Plan
- Deacon Brodie's Mahogany Secret-Drawer Cabinet
- Field Marshal Earl Haig Ceremonial Baton & Orders
- Victorian Edinburgh Sanitation & Housing Clearances
- 18th-Century Edinburgh Street Signage and Shop Relics
Thematic Museum Discovery Trails
Choose between a quick highlights tour of the city's greatest legends or a deep dive into Scottish artisan crafts.
The 45-Minute Civic Legends Sprint
Brings you directly to the museum's world-famous icons: the National Covenant, Greyfriars Bobby's collar, and James Craig's New Town plan.
Trail Stops:
Visitor Essentials & Practical Guide
Planning your visit to Huntly House: free admission, opening times, accessibility, and historic courtyard access.
100% Free Admission (£0)
General admission to all exhibits, the National Covenant, and Greyfriars Bobby relics is completely free for all visitors. Walk straight in from Canongate.
Daily 10:00 – 17:00
Open seven days a week, 363 days a year. Last entry at 16:30. Closed 25 and 26 December; opens at 12:00 noon on 1 January.
Canongate Royal Mile
142 Canongate (EH8 8DD), opposite Canongate Tolbooth. An 8-minute walk from Waverley Station or take Lothian Bus 35 directly to the door.
Bakehouse Close Courtyard
Walk straight through the building into Bakehouse Close, one of Edinburgh's best-preserved medieval closes and famous filming location for Jamie Fraser's print shop in Outlander.
Accessibility Information
Ground floor exhibits, shop, and courtyard are step-free. Upper floors feature historic 16th-century stairs; a full digital virtual tour is available at the welcome desk.
Photography Policy
Non-commercial photography without flash is permitted throughout the galleries. Flash photography is strictly prohibited to safeguard fragile 17th-century vellum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common traveler questions regarding Huntly House, Greyfriars Bobby, and visiting the Canongate.
Nearby Canongate Landmarks & Quarters
Museum of Childhood
World's first museum of childhood history with five floors of vintage toys.
The Royal Mile
Explore Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate, and 80+ historic closes.
Holyroodhouse & Abbey
Royal Stewart palace, Mary Queen of Scots' chambers, and ruined Augustinian Abbey.
Old Town Edinburgh Guide
Medieval wynds, secret gardens, historic taverns, and UNESCO World Heritage closes.