Alderstone House

Alderstone House is a well-restored and greatly extended 16th C. tower-house that now serves as headquarters for the James Walker (Leith) Group in Livingston (West Lothian). It is located on the eastern edge of the Kirkton Campus, a half-mile / 0.8 km west southwest of the town centre at Almondvale.

Alderstone comprises a traditional limewashed and harled construction, featuring crowstepped gables and a slated roof, with a large modern extension to the rear. The property was modified to become a much larger laird's house in 1626. It was extended once again in the 18th C. and reception rooms on the ground floor and a two-storey bay were added in the 19th C.

The house was converted to become premium office accommodation by Simpson and Brown Architects in 2010 at a cost of £1 million. This involved sensitive treatment of the older elements combined with the construction of a radically modern extension to the rear. This extension provides open-plan office accommodation linked to the existing historic building by a central circulation space. The extension is extensively glazing giving views out to parkland, with galvanised steel sections, together with timber and natural stone wall cladding. Solar shading is provided by timber louvres.

Henry Kinloch of Alderstown gained a charter to the lands in 1556 and probably built the original tower. The 1626 rebuilding was the work of his grandson, Patrick Kinloch, who was an advocate.

The James Walker (Leith) Group invests in commercial and residential property, and provides healthcare and trades in timber products. Its Dundas Estates subsidiary is a house-builder. The group has a turnover of around £175 million (2018).

Alderstone was Category A-listed in 1971 but this was reduced to a Category B in 1988 and it now sits within a business park. To the northeast is a fine crowstepped lectern doocot.


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