The Gillis Centre's past

The site and buildings that form the present Gillis Centre hold a wide and varied interest for secular, church and architectural historians.

The history of the Whitehouse site can be traced back to the 15th century when property comprised a small estate on the outskirts of the city. Over the following centuries, the Whitehouse became connected with the outbreak of the Great Plague and accusations of witchcraft. Also, the Whitehouse holds some 18th century literary associations with some important works written within its walls.

The ecclesiastical history of the site goes back to 1834 with the founding by Bishop James Gillis of the first post-Reformation convent in Scotland. For over 150 years the present Gillis Centre was well known in Edinburgh as St Margaret's Convent and School under the ministry of the Ursulines of Jesus. In 1986, the complex was renamed Gillis College and housed the senior seminary for the Archidiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh until 1995 when the Scottish Bishops decided to locate a National Seminary in Bearsden, Glasgow. The complex now became Gillis Centre, the Archdiocesan offices and agencies moved into the building and work began on developing a coference centre.

As well as the remaining Whitehouse dating back to 1670, the Gillis Centre comprises St Margaret's Chapel designed by James Gillepsie Graham (probably under significant influence from Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin) and opened in 1835. From the same period, the gatehouse and convent building was also designed by James Gillepsie Graham, and Edward Welby Pugin (son of AWN Pugin) designed the school building completed in 1863.

The Gillis Centre now provides a range of office accommodation for various diocesan commissions, bodies and organisations. In addition, the Gillis Centre houses the theological library from the former Gillis College, and provides conference facilities and residential accommodation available for commercial hire.