Moubray House

Moubray House is a multi-story stone building on High Street that displays architectural features from different periods of construction. Inside, a painted Renaissance ceiling decorated with fruit and flower patterns from 1650 survives, while the wooden barrel-vaulted attic remains visible on the exterior.

The building was first constructed in 1477 by Robert Moubray and then rebuilt in 1529 after significant changes to the city. It survived the burning that swept through Edinburgh in 1544, making it an enduring landmark from the medieval period.

The house once sheltered prominent figures like painter George Jamesone and writer Daniel Defoe, whose lives and work were connected to Edinburgh's cultural life. Walking through these spaces lets you sense the connection between this building and the people who shaped the city's intellectual world.

The building sits in the heart of the old city along High Street and is easily accessible on foot while walking through the historic center. The interior spaces can be tight and the lighting natural, so visiting during daylight hours allows you to see the painted details clearly.

The painted ceiling with fruit and flower patterns is one of the few surviving examples of this decorative art form in Edinburgh from that era. Few visitors realize how rare these hand-decorated Renaissance details are when visiting other buildings in the city.