Although Princes Street is perhaps the most famous street in Edinburgh it is fairly bland with modern shops and buildings. Far more interesting is the Royal Mile, which leads from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. It is actually a series of roads a mile in length, and contains numerous beautiful old buildings including John Knox House, in the centre.
The house was built from 1490 onwards, featuring a fine wooden gallery and hand-painted ceiling. It had belonged to Walter Reidpath whose grandson John Arres inherited it and left it to his daughter Mariota Arres in 1556. Her husband James Mossman, Goldsmith, refashioned the crown of Scotland for James V. He remained loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots when she was exiled in England. He worked in Edinburgh Castle making coins for her supporters who held the castle on her behalf during the 'Lang Siege'. When the Castle surrendered in August 1573, Mossman was charged with counterfeiting, for which he was hanged, quartered and beheaded. The house was forfeit for the treachery, and was given in the name of James VI of Scotland to James Carmichael. The house and its contents are now a museum. The building is owned by the Church of Scotland and is now administered as part of the new, adjacent Scottish Storytelling Centre.
John Knox was a 16th century Scottish minister, theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He is the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Apparently, the house was Knox's home only for a few months during the siege of Edinburgh Castle, but it is believed that he died here.
Source: Wikipedia
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