Brunstane - Brunstane House

Brunstane House

Much of the area at one time constituted the policies of Brunstane House (i.e. the lands attached to the mansion). Occupied from medieval times and sometimes referred to as Gilbertoun the house was occupied by the Crichton family during the Reformation, infamous for conspiring against Cardinal Beaton. In 1545 both George Wishart and John Knox stayed at the house.

The current house was built in 1639 for John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale, incorporating an L-plan house dating from the 1560s and early 14th century elements built for the Crichton family. It was extended by Sir William Bruce in 1672 and bought by Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton in 1733. He employed William Adam to rebuild parts of the house and install interior panelling, plasterwork and other features. The house includes some of the earliest known examples of sash windows in Scotland (invented in 1690).

The house had an interesting sales history, changing hands many times.

• 19th March 1703 - inherited by Lyonell, Earl of Dysart only son of the Duchess of Lauderdale.
• 31st May 1736 - sold to the Duke of Argyle
• 1746- sold to James, 3rd Earl of Abercorn
• 28th September 1747- part of land sold by James to Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (who had been Lord Justice Clerk since 1724). He died in his house 13th December 1766.
• 15th February 1769- properties reamalgamated and sold to James, 8th Earl of Abercorn.
• In 1875 his descendant the 1st Duke of Abercorn sold the house to the Benhar Coal Company for the mineral rights. They parcelled off the land and sold on the house, now stripped of its estate lands.