image copyright Rachel Windsor

Pilrig House was built in 1638 by Gilbert Kirkwood, a goldsmith, on the site of the Peel Tower but has been considerably altered since then, first in a remodelling by William Burn and later after a devastating fire.     It was bought by the Balfour family in 1720, and gifted to the City of Edinburgh in the early 20th century.  The house is now in use as residential units within its old grounds of Pilrig Park.  The Rev Lewis Balfour, minister of Colinton and maternal grandfather of Robert Lewis Stevenson was born here in 1777.