Reply 1. Terry and Sandra Allan Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Terry and Sandra Allan for writing, to tell me that the facts given in the 2nd paragraph of 'History' above are incorrect., and for giving me this explanation of the link between Tweeddale Court and the daughter of the First Earl of Lothian. Terry and Sandra wrote:

Accurate History ! "The mansion at the end of what is now known as Tweeddale Court was built by Sir Neill Layng in 1576. If you need to prove that go to the existing building and look at the engravings on the interior portal to substantiate it. The location was known as Laing's Close.  When Sir Neill died in 1586 he left the building, including the large tenement attached, to Master John Layng. When Master John Layng died in 1612 both the mansion and the tenement were eventually purchased by the first Earl of Lothian for his daughter.  Terry & Sandra Allan, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia:  August 29, 2013

Thank You Thanks, Terry and Sandra,  for your comments.   It's helpful to be told when info is unreliable.  Guidebooks can certainly introduce and perpetuate errors.  Some are easier to spot than others! NOTE:  The comments from Terry and Sandra above are consistent with the C16 history of Tweeddale Court given in the book 'The Buildings of Scotland - Edinburgh' (John Gifford et al), a book that I've found to be reliable in the past.  There is only a minor difference.  The book, in fact, refers to inheritance by John Laing in 1585: Terry and Sandra refer to in heritance by John Layng in 1586. REPLY FROM TERRY & SANDRA:  Terry and Sandra replied on 30 August 2013,, telling me: (a)  Sir Neill Layng died in December 1585 and his Will was administered in 1586. (b)  Sir Neill Layng was the brother of Terry's (or was it Sandra's?) 9x great grandfather. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  August 29+30, 2013