History

Part of the Edinburgh new Town and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a significant part of one of the most and best preserved examples of urban planning in Britain.    

Originally the Church of Scotland, premises for the Scottish Tourist Board c. 1980-81 and laterally a Casino c. 1986-2007. Designed by Edinburgh born architect David Cousin (1809-78). Partnered in 1831 with the Glasgow based civil engineer, William Gale as Cousin and Gale and became Edinburgh's Superintendant of Public Works and Architect to the British Lien Bank. Appointed as architect to Edinburgh's City Improvement Trust in 1867.   

His work is mainly in Edinburgh, where his finest buildings include: 

• St Thomas Episcopal Church (1842-3)
• Crb Exchange (1853)
• Reid School of Music (1858
• Facades in Chambers Street (1864)
• The Saving Bank and Free Church building on the Mound (1853- 8)
• The Commercial India Buildings (1862) 
• Dsigned Cambuslang Old Parish Church (1841-3) and the colossal Romanesque Monteith Mausoleum, in the Necropolis (1842)

The exuberant and richly decorative neo-Norman front of the building makes a striking contrast to the surrounding Georgian development. From the entrance a geometric stair leads to a gallery level where a floor was inserted circa 1958. the roof is groin vaulted and, where piers would be expected to be found, elaborately arched trusses with pendants exist.    

The rear elevation is reworking by Wardrop and Rein in 1882, prior to this it had been classical in character.

The property housed the Edinburgh Tourist Office for may years and later was the home of the Berkeley Casino. During this time the magnificent arched ceiling was hidden from the publics view behind suspended panels.

Its launch as Ghillie Dhu marks the unveiling of this breathtaking architectural gem.