14 India Street, Edinburgh
The Georgian birthplace of the physicist James Clerk Maxwell in Edinburgh's New Town, run by the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation and open for booked tours.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The house at 14 India Street in Edinburgh's New Town was built in 1820 for the father of James Clerk Maxwell. Maxwell, the physicist who formulated the theory of electromagnetism, was born there in 1831. The family moved to their estate at Glenlair in southern Scotland when he was a few months old, but he returned to Edinburgh for school and university. He inherited the house after his father's death and left it to his wife when he died in 1879.
The James Clerk Maxwell Foundation was set up in 1977 by Professor Sydney Ross, a Scottish-born chemist working in the United States. For its first years it gave grants to scientists and students. In 1993 the Foundation bought the house, which turned its work towards commemoration, and its trust deed requires the building to be kept in a way that suits its historic importance.
Today the Georgian house has been restored to its period and shows a growing collection of heritage material linked to Maxwell, his associates and his family. It is a small museum and is visited on guided tours led by volunteers, which have to be booked in advance. The Foundation also offers an interactive virtual tour of the house and a walking tour of Maxwell's Edinburgh.
Highlights
- Birthplace of James Clerk Maxwell, built in 1820
- Georgian house restored to its period
- Heritage material about Maxwell, his associates and family
- Guided tours led by volunteers, free of charge
- Self-guided Maxwell walking tour of Edinburgh
Permanent exhibition
- Maxwell's birthplace – A restored Georgian house with a growing collection of heritage material linked to James Clerk Maxwell, his associates and his family.
- Operated by
- James Clerk Maxwell Foundation
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Tours are free; donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The house has two levels. Entry is up a short flight of steps and the upper level is reached only by a full flight of stairs. An interactive virtual tour of the house is available online.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tours are led by volunteers and last about 90 minutes. Individuals and small groups request a place by email, giving a contact name, phone number, home city and country, party size and preferred date. Larger groups need advance notice and a group spokesperson, and third-party tour operators are not considered. Overseas visitors who travel a long way for academic, scientific or historic reasons may ask for a special arrangement. A self-guided Maxwell walking tour of Edinburgh (about 3 miles) can be combined with a visit. |
