Merchiston Tower

Merchiston Tower is a four-story fortified residence with an L-shaped layout and thick stone walls topped by cone-shaped roofs at the corner turrets. The building shows the typical structure of a defended family home from the medieval period with sturdy construction throughout.

Alexander Napier, second Laird of Merchiston, built this fortified residence around 1454 as the family seat of Clan Napier. The tower later survived heavy bombardment during a siege in the 1570s, which left marks on its structure.

The tower holds a painted wooden ceiling from the 1500s showing scenes of Germanic folklore and the court of James VI, moved here from another house. This artwork reflects the learned interests of the family who once lived there.

The exterior can be viewed freely throughout the year, though visiting the interior requires arranging access in advance with Edinburgh Napier University. Planning ahead is helpful if you want to see the inside spaces.

During restoration work in the 1960s, workers discovered a heavy cannonball lodged in the tower walls from the 1572 siege. This finding confirmed that the building genuinely survived the intense bombardment of that conflict.

Location: City of Edinburgh

Location: Edinburgh

Inception: 1454

GPS coordinates: 55.93330,-3.21391

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:48