St Andrew's House

St Andrew’s House stands on the southern slope of Calton Hill in central Edinburgh. It is an art deco government building and the headquarters of the Scottish Government. The building occupies the site of the former Calton Jail, where ten murderers are still buried beneath the car park. Only the turreted Governor’s House survives from the old prison. The structure was completed in 1939 as the largest metal-framed building in Europe at the time. It brought together Scottish government departments under one roof for the first time. The building is worth the journey for its architectural importance and historical role. Designed by Thomas S. Tait, it won an architectural competition and opened just hours after the Second World War began. The official royal opening was later cancelled due to war, and the King and Queen finally opened it in February 1940. During the war it became a key target and housed emergency meetings of the Council of State. After the war it remained a symbol of Scottish administration, now serving as the hub of the Scottish Government. Visitors find a monolithic art deco structure with symmetrical north and irregular south facades. The building overlooks Waverley Station, the Canongate and Holyrood Park. Inside, sculpted decorations include symbolic figures by Sir William Reid Dick and bronze doors by Walter Gilbert. The turreted Governor’s House and nearby Political Martyrs’ Monument add to the setting. The facade still bears sooty traces from wartime trams and trains. The building remains a Category A listed landmark and a rare example of modern architecture in Edinburgh.