Ten ghostly murderers lie beneath our feet. That’s right. Beneath the car park of St Andrew’s House. This imposing building. The very heart of Scottish Government. It stands here on the site of the old Calton Jail. Its foundations rest on the final resting place of ten executed criminals. A chilling thought as we stand before this impressive structure.
St Andrew’s House isn’t just any government building. It’s a grand Art Deco masterpiece. Completed in 1939. It was the largest metal-framed building in Europe at the time. Imagine the marvel of engineering that went into this behemoth. Bringing together all Scottish government departments under one roof for the first time in Edinburgh.
Its construction began in 1935. Thomas S Tait of Burnet Tait and Lorne architects designed it. He won an architectural competition. The building initially housed the Scottish Office. The Secretary of State for Scotland worked there. The building opened just one day after the declaration of World War II. A royal opening ceremony was planned. Unfortunately the war intervened. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth eventually opened it in 1940.
Wartime Edinburgh. A city on edge. St Andrew’s House became a crucial target. It hosted vital meetings. The new Council of State met there. Scottish MPs convened there too. Secretaries of State for Scotland Tom Johnston led these meetings. Fear of air raids led to the destruction of many old government files. A precautionary measure to prevent a catastrophic fire. Fortunately Edinburgh mostly escaped the worst of the bombing.
Today St Andrew’s House thrives. It houses 1600 civil servants. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister work here. The Permanent Secretary is based here too. The building underwent a major refurbishment in 2001. Yet a sooty residue still coats its facade. A permanent reminder of its early days. It continues to be the hub of Scottish Government decision-making. A crucial building in the heart of Edinburgh.
The Governor’s House remains. A turreted remnant of the Calton Jail. A stark reminder of the building’s shadowy past. Standing proudly next to it are the Old Calton Burial Ground and the Political Martyrs’ Monument. Together they tell a story of Edinburgh’s complex and compelling history. A history that continues today within the walls of St Andrew’s House.