I love a bit of history and
a wonderful tower!

I think that every great house should have a tree-lined drive and, for those of you lucky enough to visit Lennoxlove, previously Lethington Tower, you will not be disappointed with the grand entrance to the property!

Lennoxlove House is an historic house set in picturesque woodlands just half a mile south of the beautiful village of Haddington in East Lothian, near Edinburgh in Scotland. The house was originally a15th-century tower house and has been extended several times, in the 17th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Throughout the centuries, the house has been owned by the Maitland family, the Blantyres and, in 1946, acquired by the 14th Duke of Hamilton. In 2006, the 15th Duke of Hamilton began an extensive renovation project to bring renewed life and polish to the property. When you enter the front door, you just know that Lennexlove has style and you cannot wait to explore further.

The lands of Lethington were acquired by Robert Maitland of Thirlestane in 1345. The Maitland family constructed the earliest part of the building, the L-plan tower house at the south-west of the building.

Mary of Guise stayed at Lethington in 1548 when she came to see Haddington with Piero Strozzi, an Italian military leader. The following year it was burned by the English troops who were then occupying Haddington.

Prominent members of the Maitland family included the poet Richard Maitland, his son William Maitland of Lethington, Secretary of State to Mary Queen of Scots, and his son James Maitland of Lethington.

It was then acquired by James’ uncle, John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, reportedly in an underhanded manner. Sir John Scot of Scotstarvet, writing in the seventeenth century, commented: “Yet the conquest he made of the barony of Liddington from his brother’s son, James Maitland, was not thought lawful nor conscientious.” James Maitland had become a Catholic and was obliged to leave Scotland.

The property was purchased by the trustees of Frances Teresa Stuart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox following her death in 1702 for the benefit of her “neare and deare kinsman, the said Walter Stuart”. Walter Stuart was the eldest son of Alexander, 5th Lord Blantyre, and was to become the 6th Lord Blantyre on the death of his father in 1704.

The Duchess had stipulated that the property be called “Lennox’s Love to Blantyre”, this was subsequently shortened to Lennoxlove. It remained in the ownership of the Blantyre-Stewarts for almost two centuries.

When the 12th Lord Blantyre died in 1900 without male heirs, the property passed into the ownership of his daughter, Ellen Stewart, and her husband Sir David Baird, 3rd Baronet of Newbyth, Prestonkirk. Their younger son, Major William Baird, commissioned the architect Sir Robert Lorimer to oversee the extensive refurbishment of the house in 1912.

Lennoxlove is now the seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, having been purchased by the 14th Duke in 1946.

What a colourful history Lennoxlove has, and today, the property offers the perfect venue for a luxury short break, a wedding reception, a corporate event or a golfing holiday. For me, this is a luxury house party venue and great as a superb venue to celebrate a special family event.

It is also a superb backdrop for a wedding; the house can play host to 84 guests and up to 200 in the permanent marquee on the lawn. There is also plenty of accommodation in the local village for those guests over and above the 22 that the house itself sleeps.

Properties like Lennoxlove are rare and, if you simply wish to get away from it all and spend quality time with friends and family, Ken and the team will ensure you never forget your stay at Lennoxlove….for all the right reasons!

With 11 luxurious, spacious bedrooms to choose from, each one has been designed with you in mind. Comfortable bedding with goosedown duvets, exclusive toiletries by Penhaligons, London, claw foot baths and a turndown service every night, are all part of the five star pampering service provided for your enjoyment. The bedrooms, including one for guests with restricted mobility, are spread across three floors and both their size and sumptuous furnishings radiate throughout the property.

Prices start from £4000 – £5500 per night and include a full breakfast for 22 guests. VAT is excluded and will be charged at the prevailing rate. Please note for weekend wedding bookings a 2 night minimum stay is required.

Treasures!

The Lennoxlove Collection includes the boulle cabinet, given to the Duchess of Lennox by King Charles II, and a silver casket and sapphire ring belonging to Mary Queen of Scots, together with her death mask. The treasure of this house is its important collection of portraits, furniture, porcelain and other artefacts, many of which came from the Hamilton Palace.

For atmospheric dining in The Great Hall, this picture says it all – just imagine the sumptuous dining experience you could be treated to here.

Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lennoxlove_House made available under
the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.