Colonel Gardiner’s last stand. That chilling phrase hangs heavy in the air here at Bankton House. Bankton House isn’t just a beautiful building. It’s a silent witness to a pivotal moment in Scottish history. This elegant 17th-century house, with its distinctive orange lime harling and ornate Dutch gables, has seen more than its fair share of drama. It started life as “Holy Stop,” or “Oliestob,” a resting place for monks from Newbattle Abbey on their pilgrimage. The monks, granted these lands by Robert de Quincy, discovered East Lothian’s rich coalfields which they used to fuel their salt panning operations at Prestongrange. After the Reformation, the estate changed hands many times, passing from the Kerrs to the Setons, then to the Hamiltons. One notable resident, Lieutenant Colonel Otho Hamilton, even served as Lieutenant Governor of Plancentia in Newfoundland.
In 1733, Bankton House was purchased by Colonel James Gardiner. A distinguished soldier, Gardiner gave the estate its current name. He supposedly received letters addressed to “Bankton,” perhaps a nickname referencing his military background. However, Gardiner’s tenure at Bankton House would be tragically short-lived. In 1745, the Jacobite rising reached its climax near his home. The Battle of Prestonpans raged, with Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rebel forces clashing against government troops. Gardiner, leading a desperate rearguard action, was mortally wounded within sight of his beloved Bankton House. He fell near a thorn tree, a poignant detail captured in Sir William Allan’s painting of the battle. He died shortly after at the nearby Tranent Parish Church manse. A monument near Bankton House marks the spot where he fell.
After Gardiner’s death, Bankton House was bought by Andrew McDouall, a prominent Edinburgh advocate. Later appointed Lord Bankton, he left his name firmly attached to the house. Sadly, tragedy struck again in 1852 when the house was destroyed by fire. Restored, it suffered the same fate again in 1966. Reduced to a ruin, it stood as a poignant reminder of its past. But Bankton House was not destined to remain a ruin. Thanks to the efforts of the Lothian Building Preservation Trust, it was meticulously restored between 1988 and 1995. Now divided into apartments, it stands as a testament to resilience and a symbol of the rich history that permeates every stone. The west pavilion, once a dovecote, now houses an exhibit on the house’s fascinating journey through time. So, as you stand here, before the restored Bankton House, remember the echoes of its past, from the chanting monks to the fallen colonel. It is a place where history whispers on the wind.