Glen Tanar House

Located in Glen Tanar, to the south of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire, Glen Tanar House (known locally as The Glen) is situated within parkland 2¼ miles (3.5 km) south southeast of Dinnet and 3½ miles (5.5 km) west southwest of Aboyne. What remains is but a fragment of the original rambling pink granite mansion built by English architect George Truefitt in the 1870s for Manchester-based merchant banker and Member of Parliament Sir William Cunliffe Brooks (1819 - 1900). Brooks at first leased the estate from his son-in-law, the Marquis of Huntly, but then bought it in 1890. He was both eccentric and wealthy and set about improving the estate, building in the English vernacular style with no expense spared - his extensive dog kennels had electric light and central heating, and even the estate piggery benefited from stained-glass windows! Regular visitors included the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, whose mistress, Lillie Langtry, would often reside discreetly at Glen Tanar while he stayed at Balmoral Castle. After Cunnliffe Brooks' death, the estate passed to George Coats (1849 - 1918), the Paisley thread manufacturer. Coats was created Lord Glentanar in 1916. The contents of his home were sold off to pay death duties after the passing of the 2nd Lord Glentanar in 1971 and the house was mostly demolished having outlived its usefulness. A rather more modest property was built on the site for his daughter the Hon. Mrs Jean Bruce by Sir James Dunbar-Nasmith in 1975, retaining the ballroom of the original mansion. This ballroom features a beamed ceiling, adorned with over 600 antlers, and now provides a venue for weddings, parties, functions and concerts. Both house and estate remain in the Bruce family.

The Glen Tanar Estate extends to 10,117 ha (25,000 acres) and includes farmland, pine forests, heather moorland and rivers that provide fishing for salmon. It lies within the Cairngorms National Park.


Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry arrow

If you have found this information useful please consider making
a donation to help maintain and improve this resource. More info...

By using our site you agree to accept cookies, which help us serve you better