Date: Tuesday 7 October 2008
Place: Departing from the back of the Dean Gallery
Cost: £48 per ticket, Freinds only (includes coffee and lunch)
Capacity: 45
Please note: This tour is not advised for people with limited mobility. Warm clothing recommended.
Booking required: Tickets availiable from the Friends Office 0131 624 627.

Thirlestane Castle, the family home of Captain The Hon Maitland–Carew, is now in the care of a Charitable Trust and we are fortunate to be accompanied on our visit by Neil Hynd, previously Director of Historic
Scotland and now Chairman of the Thirlestane Trust.

As the seat of the Earls and Duke of Lauderdale the Castle has at times held a central role in the history of Scotland. The Castle as it stands today is the result of three main periods of building beginning in 1590 and then greatly enhanced by the architect Sir William Bruce in 1670 followed by further work in 1840 by Edinburgh architects David Bryce and William Burn. Much of the splendour of the interior was produced during the 17th Century with the Duke of Lauderdale employing Charles II’s favourite plasterer, George Dunsterfield and his team of Dutch craftsmen, which resulted in ceilings of breathtaking depth and realism.

The Castle houses one of the most comprehensive collections of family busts and portraits among them works by Romney, Reynolds, Lawrence, Lely and John and David Scougal. The lavish furnishing is principally 19th Century and there is also a large collection of Chinese porcelain. An area of interest, too, is the nursery wing which has on display Edwardian, Victorian and even Georgian toys and games.

Our visit will start with coffee and biscuits when Neil Hynd will give us an introductory talk. We will then be given a tour of the Castle and a light lunch before setting off for Mellerstain House.

Mellerstain House home to the Earl and Countess of Haddington was built in two stages. The first in 1725 by William Adam and then completed between 1770-78 by Robert Adam. Here decorative ceilings by Robert Adam are considered to be amongst his finest most especially that of the library still in its original shades with roundels painted by Antonio Zucci. The sumptuous interiors are furnished with Queen Anne, Regency, Georgian and French style pieces with paintings by, among others, Ramsay, Van Ruisdael, Aikman, Gainsborough, de Medina, Nasmyth, Kneller and Nicholas Maes.

We will be given a guided tour of the house and afterwards Friends will be given the opportunity to visit the Terrace Gardens which were laid out in 1909 and command a glorious view across to the Cheviot Hills.