Journey back to 1817. Dalmeny House rises before you, a testament to changing tastes and enduring family legacies. This Gothic revival mansion stands proudly on the Firth of Forth’s edge. It is near Dalmeny, in north-west Edinburgh.
Dalmeny House became the home of the Earl and Countess of Rosebery. The house was the first in Scotland to embrace the Tudor Revival style. Imagine the stir it caused. It replaced the old family seat, Barnbougle Castle. Barnbougle was close by but apparently less comfortable.
Dalmeny’s story stretches back to the 13th century. The Mowbray family held the estate then. They built Barnbougle Castle. Sir Archibald Primrose acquired the estate in 1662. His son became the Earl of Rosebery in 1703.
Think of the 3rd Earl of Rosebery in 1774. He commissioned Robert Adam to design a new house at Barnbougle. Robert Burn also provided designs in 1788. Yet, the Earl focused on the estate instead. He planted woodland and built a walled garden.
Archibald, the 4th Earl, took a different path. He sought new house plans in the early 19th century. William Atkinson and William Burn submitted designs. Still, nothing happened until Archibald became Earl in 1814.
He approached Jeffrey Wyatt for a Tudor Gothic design. He liked it. But, Archibald wanted William Wilkins. He had attended Cambridge with him. Wilkins created a Tudor Gothic design, which was built in 1817. The design took inspiration from East Barsham Manor in Norfolk. From 1812, Thomas White Jr. designed the landscape around Dalmeny.
Inside Dalmeny House, a surprise awaits. Most principal rooms are in the Regency style. The hall boasts a hammerbeam roof. It holds paintings and furniture from the Rosebery and Rothschild collections. The 5th Earl’s marriage in 1878 brought the Rothschild treasures. French furniture and porcelain came from Mentmore, Buckinghamshire. That was the family’s English mansion.
Dalmeny also safeguards one of Britain’s largest collections of Napoleonic memorabilia. It includes the chair and desk Napoleon used on St Helena. It holds his shaving stand. There is even the pillow where his head rested after his death.
Picture Queen Mary visiting Dalmeny House in 1927. She came with her daughter, Mary, the Princess Royal. The house stands in a large wooded park today. It offers views across the Firth of Forth. A public path runs along the shore. It stretches from Queensferry to Cramond.
Dalmeny House remains a private home. But, it welcomes visitors during the summer. You can explore its rooms through guided tours. Some spaces are available for events. In 2021, Dalmeny served as ‘Dun Dunbar’ castle in the film A Castle for Christmas.
Dalmeny House continues to evolve. It adapts to changing times. Its story blends family heritage, architectural shifts and historical significance. It offers a glimpse into Scotland’s past.