The Howard is a traditional Scottish Georgian town house hotel.
Originally built as homes in the 1820's, these three buildings, which are now The Howard, are part of the city's New Town in Edinburgh. This area of Edinburgh, classified as the largest Historical Monument in Britain, developed when the Old Town, from the Castle to Holyrood House grew overcrowded. They became a hotel just after the Second World War, when a Mr Fergusson purchased two adjoining properties, 32 and 36. He undertook a conversion to form a guesthouse, called the St Christopher, linking the house at four levels by corridors and thus creating 25 bedrooms.
Many years later the property was purchased by Mr Arthur Neil who upgraded the building into an hotel and renamed it The Howard.
Under Arthur Neil's ownership, The Howard gained an excellent reputation until it was sold in 1989 to Select Hotels.
The hotel was completely transformed into a luxury Town House Hotel, reduced to 15 bedrooms to accommodate larger spaces and using the finest of fittings, fabrics, paintings and antique furniture.
In late 1995 the hotel was bought by The Town House Company, owned by Peter Taylor, which also has three sister hotels in Edinburgh - Channings, The Bonham and The Edinburgh Residence.
Since the purchase, considerable redecoration and further improvements have taken place to ensure that the highest standard of accommodation is maintained for our visitors including an excellent Dining Room and dedicated Butler service.
The 1820's in Edinburgh proved to be decisive in the shift in tastes when house painters reflected a phase of intense experiment and innovation. In those days wallpaper was unhealthy on account the 'Putrefaction' of its components and animal glues in the damp Scottish climate.
David Ramsey Hay, whose handsome premises at 90 George Street were restored by Laura Ashley (House Furnishings) was one of the premier house painters of the 1820's. The murals you see in The Atholl (the Breakfast Room at The Howard, 34 Great Kings Street) are in what is known as 'Watteausque' style in that Hay's favourite imitative work was in copying the images of the engraving artist, Watteau. Similar work was carried out in a number of New Town residences but sadly, over the years, many were subject to damage by conventional misguided 'good taste' by subsequent occupants.
Another example of his work, which is in perfect condition and interestingly, along replicate lines, are murals at Kinnaird House, a luxury Scottish hotel in Perthshire, which is well worth a visit if you are travelling north.
