The History of Carberry Tower

A very warm Scottish welcome to Carberry Tower Mansion House and Estate. A place of intimate grandeur and one of the great Houses of Scotland, Carberry Tower sits regally within 52 acres of private Estate parkland, just 7 miles from Edinburgh, at the gateway to Scotland’s famous golf coast in beautiful East Lothian countryside.

The first signs of settlement on the land were from Roman times, with a number of Roman coins and pieces of pottery discovered during the building of the House. Enjoying a long and celebrated history, the Estate was first mentioned in the 12th Century, when King David I of Scotland, granted the lands to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey to be used as a retreat, in recognition of their services to the Crown. By the 1400’s the original square Castle was under construction, with the first foundation stone being laid around 1480. And today, the magnificent entrance hall is indeed part of the original Castle keep, completed in 1500.

From 1541 until 1585, the lands were leased from the Abbey by Hugh Rigg – the King’s Advocate in Scotland. It is believed that Rigg advised the Regent Arran to change the position of the Scottish army during the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, as a way of strategically keeping English forces from overrunning Carberry. And on Carberry Hill, which can be seen from the south lawns and used to form part of the original Estate, Mary Queen of Scots surrendered to the English confederate lords on the 1st of June 1567, before being imprisoned in Linlithgow Palace. If you feel like a good walk, the ‘Queen’s Mount’ still stands on Carberry Hill, commemorating the incident. And as well being able to see remains of the original earthworks dug into the hillside for defence during the battle of Pinkie, there are also fabulous views over Edinburgh.

In 1587, after the Scottish Reformation, the lands and Castle were annexed by the Crown and new supervisors, the Maitland’s, were briefly appointed. However, on the 1st of April 1600, Sir Hugh Rigg received a charter from Queen Anne, wife of James VI of Scotland, granting him a further stay until 1659, at which point the Estate passed through a number of hands, until shortly after the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 – during which, on the 21st of September, Jacobite troops passed Carberry on their way to the famous battle of Prestonpans. In the heat of battle, the inexperienced government troops loyal to George II were outflanked in the face of a Highland charge by Scottish clansmen and a famous victory was won by the Jacobites.

The culture of the Household is therefore not only very personal, but also a reflection of their Family values. So, woven into the heart of life within Carberry Tower and their Estate, are values of honour, integrity, excellence, grace and respect – all permeated by a desire to build meaningful and lasting relationships. At the heart of that vision, is the creation of a warm and welcoming Home for guests to relax in whilst enjoying the fruits of the House. And to dwell, relax, feast and make merry – as has long been the tradition of this matchless place over the centuries.

As you’ll no doubt discover, there is a deep beauty and richness here, creating a sense of incredible wellbeing that pervades the soul. It is a majestic stately home in an unforgettable setting, which invites you to simply let go and surrender the cares of everyday life – which in itself, can be really rather transformational. So as our guests, we warmly invite you to share in the goodness and the glory of this beloved place and to allow our dedicated staff team to serve you with thoughtful consideration and attentive care – for though you may have arrived here as strangers, you will most certainly leave as our friends.