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The
two finest historical rooms in the Hospital are the Old Refectory,
or Wester Laigh Hall, and the Council Chamber. The Refectory, nowadays
the Staff Common Room, is a long, low room entered immediately from
the Quadrangle with a huge  classical
fireplace at either end spanned by a remarkable flat arch and ornamented
with massive decorations. One bears Heriot's Coat of Arms and the
other an elaborate monogram consisting of all the letters in the name
of George Heriot ingeniously interwoven.
In
1680 Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick, the Lord Register of Scotland,
asked permission to set up a press here to publish the new Acts of
Parliament. As the Hall was then superfluous to the Hospital's need,
the Governors granted it to him with the rooms above to hang out the
newly printed sheets.
The
ceilings in the Old Refectory and Council Chamber are more difficult
to date. They do not have the appearance of 17th. century plaster
work, but the Council Chamber ceiling existed by 1847. If they are
not original there are two possible later designers: John Adam, who
redesigned the approach from the Grassmarket and made other alterations
for the Governors in 1762, or William Henry Playfair, who was employed
by them between 1829 and 1832.
Originally
adjoining the Refectory were a scullery and kitchen, which occupied
the ground floor of the north-west tower. The kitchen, an arched apartment,
was the first portion of the building to be completed.
The
Council Chamber was the last room to be properly finished. In August
1688, a proposal was made to line the windows with timber and the
walls with gilded hangings. Nothing was done, however, until 21st
April 1790, when the  Treasurer
was instructed "to cause lynne the Council Chamber with wainscot and
to agree at the easiest rate he can for finishing there-of with any
wright he shall employ". This was done, and the room was entirely
wainscotted with fine old oak, including an entablature of the Corinthian
order, perhaps by Alexander Eizat. An ornamental breaking is formed
on the north side of the room with the pilasters of the same order.
In
the centre is the fireplace with a finely-carved mantelpiece and a
highly-relieved wreath and festoon of fruits , flowers and grain surrounding
the Founder's arms. Originally this space  contained
a painting by Bonar representing tradition in the Hospital that three
boys discovered the mineral spring where St. Bernard's Well now stands.
The room also contains an unusually large gate leg council table and
houses copies of important documents relating to the history of the
Hospital.
There
are two important paintings in the room. Nearer the window is a painting
of the Founder copied by the Scottish painter, George Scougall, about
1698 from the original painting of Van Somer, which is now lost. Nearer
the door is a portrait of James Jackson (Treasurer of the Trust to
1804) painted by one of the Hospital's most famous Former Pupils,
Sir Henry Raeburn. A tunnel-vaulted Charter Room is adjacent
to the Council Room.
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