Newliston House & Estate, Kirkliston, West Lothian, EH29

Hidden Georgian gem gloriously positioned in a designed landscape on the outskirts of Scotland’s capital city

Description

Newliston is an exceptionally attractive estate renowned for its Georgian architectural elegance and historical significance, hidden from sight in a green pastoral oasis yet within minutes’ drive of the city centre. The estate is centred around a remarkable Robert Adam mansion encompassing a designed landscape and policy parklands through which a number of waterways flow.

Despite its stately and imposing appearance, the main house exudes the warmth of being a cherished and very much loved family home. There are five beautifully proportioned reception rooms on the ground floor and seven bedrooms and four bathrooms on the first floor with scope for a further six bedrooms and two further bathrooms on the second floor. In addition, there is an integral self-contained three bedroom flat on the lower ground floor.

Beyond the main house the estate features a substantial residential portfolio comprising fourteen properties of varying size and style generating a significant rental income for the estate. Moreover, the estate includes a number of commercially let properties situated within a converted traditional courtyard steading. These assets along with those located at The Haugh, enhance the estate’s income generating capabilities and offer further leisure and development opportunities.

Newliston spans an impressive 764 acres encompassing productive arable land, glorious pasture land and magnificent woodlands.

Location

Newliston Estate is nestled in its own designed landscape, in a desirable location near the village of Kirkliston, a stone’s throw from the city of Edinburgh. Despite the close proximity to the city, sheltered by acres of gardens, farmland and woodland, Newliston feels secluded and offers protection from the hustle and bustle of modern day life.

Newliston is located on Edinburgh’s urban fringe, only 10 miles from the city centre, 3 miles from Ingliston Park and Ride (serviced by bus and tram links to the city) and 4 miles from Edinburgh Airport. Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, is renowned for its historic Old Town and famous skyline dominated by Edinburgh Castle, and the classical architecture of its New Town. Known globally as a financial centre and home to a number of highly acclaimed universities, it now attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year particularly during the month of August when it plays host to Edinburgh’s International Festival and Fringe, a cultural feast of the arts including music, theatre, film and literature.

Situated between the confluence of central Scotland’s motorway road network, quick and easy access to all parts of Scotland could not be easier with Glasgow 38 miles to the west, Stirling 28 miles to the north west and Perth, gateway to the Scottish Highlands, 40 miles to the north. Beyond Edinburgh, on the East Lothian coastline are some of the best links golf courses in the world (Gullane, Muirfield, Archerfield and North Berwick) with St. Andrews, the Home of Golf and regular host of The Open lying 48 miles to the north east over the Queensferry Crossing. Given Newliston’s location, there is a vast array of facilities which are readily accessible.

There are a multitude of independent schools in the city to choose from including Cargilfield (preparatory), Fettes College, Edinburgh Academy, George Watson’s College, George Heriot’s, Merchiston (boys only) and St George’s (girls only). Clifton Hall , an independent school offering education from age 3 to 18, is located only 3 miles from Newliston.

Square Footage: 18,146 sq ft


Acreage: 764 Acres

Directions

From Edinburgh and its airport, follow the A8 westwards
to the Newliston/M9 roundabout. Take the fourth exit on
to A89 and continue over the River Almond before turning
right onto the B800 signposted to Kirkliston. The entrance
to Newliston House is first on the left after 550 metres.

The postcode (for sat nav purposes) is EH29 9EB.
What3Words: arise.march.snack

Additional Info

Newliston is rich in history. The estate was owned by the Dundas family for nearly three centuries, starting with Duncan Dundas of Newliston (Lord Lyon King of Arms), the third son of James the sixth Dundas of Dundas, in the 15th century.

In 1669, Elizabeth Dundas, the last Dundas of Newliston, married Sir David Dalrymple, who had been knighted for his heroism in saving an English man-of-war at Chatham. Sir David later became the Earl of Stair.

Their son, Field Marshal John Dalrymple, the second Earl of Stair, was a sailor and ambassador who spent much time at Newliston between 1722 and 1742. During this period, he designed the estate’s gardens, water features, and landscaping, drawing inspiration from his time as the French Ambassador and modelling the grounds after Versailles. The design featured sunken fences, canals, ponds, tree avenues, a horseshoe-shaped drive, a ha-ha, a walled garden, and two lodges, all meant to complement a planned mansion by William Adam.

In 1740, guards were posted at Newliston to protect it from looting, and in 1742, Lord Stair returned to battle under King George II, the last English king to take to the field. The plantation east of the house, featuring a central marble figure of Hercules and tree lined avenues forming a Union Jack (which can still be depicted from above), is said to commemorate their victory at Dettingen.

Upon Lord Stair’s death in 1747, the estate was sold to Roger Hog of Cammo, a wealthy banker. He passed the estate to his son, Thomas, in 1789. Thomas and his wife, Lady Mary (Maitland), daughter of the seventh Earl of Lauderdale, resumed the project of building Newliston House with Robert Adam, son of William Adam. Although Robert Adam died in March 1792 before the house was completed, Newliston was thought to be his last country house.

The wings of the house, considered in William’s design but missing in Robert’s, were added in 1845, designed by David Bryce to resemble Robert Adam’s work. Each wing ends with balustrades and pediments supporting two ornamental boars, one purchased in Florence and the other a reversed copy.

The estate later passed to their son, Roger Hog, who died unmarried. Much of the furniture went to his sister, the wife of Sir John Buchan Hepburn of Smeaton, but some pieces remain, including a Dundas Chair with Elizabeth Dundas Dalrymple’s initials, panels with Margaret Crichton Dundas’ initials dated 1595, and a plan of the completed landscape dated 1759.

Upon Roger Hog’s death, the estate was handed to James Maitland Hog. To this day, Newliston House remains in the ownership of his descendants. Therefore, this will be the first time that Newliston House has been listed available for sale.