John Knox House

  Social reformer and founder of the Presbyterian denomination in Scotland, John Knox served as a Royal Chaplain under King Edward VI in the mid-1500's. When Mary Tudor's reign returned Catholicism to Scotland, Knox moved to Geneva where he met John Calvin and was influenced by Calvin's theories of Reformed Theology. Upon his return to Scotland, Knox led the Protestant Reformation there. He lived for a brief time in the home of the Mossman family along the Royal Mile before his death in 1572. This home, originally constructed in 1490, is where renowned goldsmith James Mossman had his shop. Mossman supposedly refurbished Scotland's crown here for James V. A strong supporter of Mary Queen of Scots, Mossman helped to maintain Edinburgh castle during Mary's exile. Following Mary's forced abdication, Mossman was accused of counterfeiting and was hanged in 1573, and the family's property was confiscated. Knox's association with the Mossman house saved it from demolition, making it only one of two medieval structures that have survived along the Royal Mile ( the other being the Moubray House to which it is attached).

The house that has become known as "The John Knox House" because of his having lived here briefly, was actually owned by James Mossman, renowned goldsmith to the Scottish monarchy.

It is hard to believe that this one room was considered to be "an apartment" in which as many as ten family members would live.

One of the striking features of this home is the remnants of the painted ceiling.

This reproduction shows how the ceiling would have originally looked.

James Mossman's goldsmith workshop on the ground floor of the building.

This is where John Knox prepared his sermons on Presbyterian reforms. The table is located within the large room with the painted ceiling.

Next door to the Knox "apartment" is this small chapel.