Overview of Brunstane House

Located a mile (1.5 km) south of Portobello and 2 miles (3 km) east of Duddingston in E Edinburgh the present Brunstane House was built in 1639 for John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale (1616-82). Brunstane incorporates an earlier L-plan house built around 1565, itself erected on the site of an even earlier tower which had been owned by the Crichton family. With the help of the noted architect Sir William Bruce (1630 - 1710), Maitland undertook further significant extensions in 1672 at the same time as the pair were working together on the building of Thirlestane Castle. Lord Milton purchased Brunstane in 1733 and employed the architect William Adam (1689 - 1748) to extend and rebuild parts of the house. Adam was also responsible for fine interiors; incorporating panelling, plasterwork, chimney-pieces and over-mantels of some quality. The stucco-work is likely to have been by Thomas Clayton. Between 1747 and 1766 Brunstane was home to Andrew Fletcher, Lord Justice Clerk. The policies are now much reduced and the house is now divided into two parts, but both remain private residences.