Melville Castle: Difference between revisions

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|name=Melville Castle
|name=Melville Castle
|county=Midlothian
|county=Midlothian
|village=
|picture=Melville Castle.jpg
|picture=Melville Castle.jpg
|picture caption=Entrance front of Melville Castle
|picture caption=Entrance front of Melville Castle
|os grid ref=
|os grid ref=NT309670
|latitude=55.8910
|latitude=55.8910
|longitude=-3.1042
|longitude=-3.1042
|type=Country house
|type=Country house
|condition=Converted to a hotel
|garden=yes
|ownership=Private
|built=1786-1791
|architect=James Playfair
|client=Viscount Melville
|condition=Hotel conversion
|ownership=William Hay
|website=[http://www.melvillecastle.com/ www.melvillecastle.com]
}}
}}
'''Melville Castle''' is a three-storey Gothic castellated mansion situated less than a mile west of [[Dalkeith]] in [[Midlothian]], near the [[River Esk, Midlothian|North Esk]].
'''Melville Castle''' is a three-storey, Gothic, castellated mansion situated less than a mile west of [[Dalkeith]] in [[Midlothian]], standing near the [[River Esk, Midlothian|North Esk]].
 
The house was for many generations the seat of the Dundas family, the Viscounts Melville.  Today it is a hotel.


==History==
==History==
An earlier tower house on the site was demolished when the present structure, designed in 1786-91 by James Playfair for Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, was built.  
A tower house once stood on the site, owned by the Melville family, and which passed to Sir John Ross in the 14th century. It subsequently changed hands with the attached lands several times and was sold to David Rennie in 1705. It then passed via the marriage of his daughter to Henry Dundas.
 
Henry Dundas, the First Lord of the Admiralty was created 1st Viscount Melville after his seat.  He demolished the tower house on the site and built the current house, built between 1786-91 with James Playfair as the architect.


The original tower house was owned by the Melville family, before passing to Sir John Ross in the 14th century. It subsequently changed hands with the attached lands several times and was sold to David Rennie in 1705. It then passed via the marriage of his daughter to Henry Dundas.
The building was empty by the 1980s, and fell into disrepair. In 1991 it was bought by William Hay, who extensively restored the property before opening it as a luxury hotel and wedding venue.  The property was subsequently leased to Aurora Hotels with Mr Hay regaining control in January 2012. Today it operates as a hotel.


The building was empty by the 1980s, and fell into disrepair. In 1991 it was bought by William Hay, who extensively restored the property before opening it as a luxury hotel and wedding venue.  The property was subsequently leased to Aurora Hotels with Mr Hay regaining control in January 2012. Today it operates  as a hotel.
==Outside links==
*[http://www.melvillecastle.com/ Melville Castle]


==References==
==References==
* ''The Buildings of Scotland - Lothian except Edinburgh'', by Colin McWilliam,  London, 1978, p. 320-2.  ISBN 0-14-071066-3
{{reflist}}
*''The Buildings of Scotland - Lothian except Edinburgh'', by Colin McWilliam,  London, 1978, p. 320-2.  ISBN 0-14-071066-3
*{{cite book | last=Coventry | first=Martin | title=The Castles of Scotland | publisher=Birlinn | year=2006 | isbn=1-84158-449-5 }}
*{{cite book | last=Coventry | first=Martin | title=The Castles of Scotland | publisher=Birlinn | year=2006 | isbn=1-84158-449-5 }}
*{{cite web | title=thePeerage.com | url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p3058.htm#i30578| accessdate=2007-01-08 }}
*{{cite web | title=thePeerage.com | url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p3058.htm#i30578| accessdate=2007-01-08 }}
==Outside links==
*[http://www.melvillecastle.com/ Melville Castle]

Latest revision as of 21:29, 7 October 2015

Melville Castle
Midlothian

Entrance front of Melville Castle
Location
Grid reference: NT309670
Location: 55°53’28"N, 3°6’15"W
History
Built 1786-1791
For: Viscount Melville
by James Playfair
Country house
Information
Condition: Hotel conversion
Owned by: William Hay
Website: www.melvillecastle.com

Melville Castle is a three-storey, Gothic, castellated mansion situated less than a mile west of Dalkeith in Midlothian, standing near the North Esk.

The house was for many generations the seat of the Dundas family, the Viscounts Melville. Today it is a hotel.

History

A tower house once stood on the site, owned by the Melville family, and which passed to Sir John Ross in the 14th century. It subsequently changed hands with the attached lands several times and was sold to David Rennie in 1705. It then passed via the marriage of his daughter to Henry Dundas.

Henry Dundas, the First Lord of the Admiralty was created 1st Viscount Melville after his seat. He demolished the tower house on the site and built the current house, built between 1786-91 with James Playfair as the architect.

The building was empty by the 1980s, and fell into disrepair. In 1991 it was bought by William Hay, who extensively restored the property before opening it as a luxury hotel and wedding venue. The property was subsequently leased to Aurora Hotels with Mr Hay regaining control in January 2012. Today it operates as a hotel.

Outside links

References