Abden House was built in 1855 for Thomas Nelson, founder of the Scottish publishers of the same name, and designed by civil engineer Thomas Davies. Today it?s the property of the University of Edinburgh, gift to them by Sir Donald Pollock. Built with three storeys in the Jacobean revivalist style of the 19th century, Abden faces a carriage circle with gates at the end of Marchhall Crescent. It has an irregular plan with single story wings on the North and South sides. ˜