See in the New Year with a look inside the Royal Mile’s oldest house, and discover the fascinating history and dramatic conflicts of firebrand reformer John Knox. Opened exclusively for the first time in the evening on the 30th for a twilight tour and ghost stories, plus the man himself appears on New Year’s Day to greet one and all!

SPIRITS OF PLACE

On Wednesday 30th December John Knox House is illuminated as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations. But the emphasis is on subtle glows rather than beams, or even on guttering lamps in dark places.

John Knox House is one of Edinburgh’s most mysterious and little understood places. While everyone knows the picturesque exterior, few have entered the building to connect with its past inhabitants and immerse in their tales. This is the territory into which John Knox House Curator and master storyteller, Donald Smith, will guide the courageous bands for Home Light, peeling back the recent pages to peer into the House’s darkest chapters.

What remains are left for the modern day visitor of past strife, suffering and even murder?  Are there ghosts in Edinburgh’s oldest house or do the spirits still hold their secrets close? Who dares to ask these things?  Donald Smith asks, as he leads the audience by torchlight around this ancient, creaking house, guaranteeing to surprise and spook even the most hardened of souls!

NEW MAN MEETS JOHN KNOX

On New Years Day John Knox will be returning to his once short-lived home at John Knox House on Edinburgh’s High Street. But this is no casual visit.

2010 sees the 450th anniversary of the Scottish reformation which Knox instigated, changing the course of history for the nation for good and ill. To mark this event, the great reformer will be on hand throughout the day from 12pm to check up on whether visitors are living up to his high standards, and making the right kind of New Year resolutions!

In addition, at 5.30pm, Puppet Lab’s spectacular, giant ‘Big Man’ will arrive at John Knox House for a personal interview with John Knox. Coming from our primeval past, the New Man Walking takes us spectacularly into the new decade – but he has to get past John Knox first!

John Knox is embodied by the leading Scottish actor John Shedden who is acclaimed for his portrayals of a host of historical characters including Robert Louis Stevenson, J.M Barrie and McGonagall.