Edinburgh - Parliament House

The Parliament building was constructed between 1632 and 1640, but underwent a number of major alterations in 1808. Until union with England in 1707 it was the meeting place for the Scottish parliament. The 122ft/37m long hall is decorated with a beautiful Neo-gothic hammerbeam roof and a series of Raeburn portraits. One of the statues in the room represents Sir Walter Scott who was the senior court official from 1806 to 1830. This hall and the adjoining rooms are used partly by the Scotland's highest court. The Seal Library is also situated here and its Upper Library (1822) designed by William Stark is regarded as an architectural masterpiece.