Holyrood Palace is the official royal residence for the monarchy in Scotland. Originally a twelfth-century Augustinian monastery, it has been altered extensively, and most significantly in the 1670s by the architect Sir William Bruce. Robert Adam’s father, William Adam (1689-1748), also worked on the Palace between 1733 and 1742, as well as Robert’s eldest brother John Adam (1721-1792). In 1739, William was made responsible for the redecoration and refurnishing of the Duke of Hamilton’s apartment at Holyroodhouse, one of his most important commissions in interior decoration. He included survey drawings of ‘Holy-rood-House’ in his anticipated Vitruvius Scoticus (1812) which was published after his death.

There are two Adam office designs for a castellated entrance gate to Holyroodhouse Palace. It is not clear when or why these designs were made, and they do not appear to have been executed.

Literature: A.T. Bolton, The Architecture of Robert and James Adam, Volume II, Index, 1922, p. 11; J. Fleming, Robert Adam and his circle, 1978, pp. 59-60; D. King, The Complete Works of Robert & James Adam and Unbuilt Adam, Volume 2, 2001, p. 245; J. Simpson, (ed.), Vitruvius Scoticus: Plans, Elevations and Sections of Public Buildings, Noblemen’s and Gentlemen’s Houses in Scotland by William Adam, 2011, pp. 10-11, 27

Louisa Catt, 2023