Provost Skene's House

Welcome to Provost Skene’s House, an architectural survivor that stands as the oldest domestic building in the city of Aberdeen. Tucked away behind the modern glass of Marischal Square, this house dates back to 1545. …

We begin with the most historically significant room in the house: the Painted Gallery. Located on the upper floor, this room features a rare and beautiful tempera ceiling dating back to 1626. …

As you move through the twelve themed rooms of the house, you will encounter the 'Hall of Heroes.' This is the core of the 2021 redesign. The goal was to move away from being a 'dusty old cobwebby place' and instead become a…

While the new exhibits are modern, the fabric of the building remains a testament to the late seventeenth century. Several rooms feature exquisite deep-relief plaster ceilings, which were a hallmark of wealthy homes during the…

We now descend to the lowest level of the house: the basement. This area contains a 'barrel-vaulted' room that is likely original to the 1545 construction. …

Provost Skene’s House has played a supporting role in some of the most dramatic events in British history. In 1746, during the Jacobite Rebellion, the house was occupied by Hanoverian troops and served as the temporary residence…

Finally, we return outside to appreciate the building's exterior from the surrounding Marischal Square development. The house is a beautiful example of 'granite rubble' construction, a method using irregular pieces of granite…

As we conclude our journey through Provost Skene’s House, I hope you have felt the incredible resilience and pride of this building. It has survived centuries of change—from the religious secrecy of the seventeenth century to the…