Hopetoun House

Hopetoun House is situated 3 miles west of Queensferry, 13 miles west of Edinburgh.

Hopetoun House is open for visits April to September, 10.30 - 17.00, Group bookings all year. Postcode: EH30 9RW

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The image top is of the east side entrance, only way in for Visitors.

The second image is the first view you get of Hopetoun House when driving round to the Car Park.

The third image is of the Main Building, with the original Hopetoun House completed in 1707 to designs of Sir William Bruce.

Note the Fourth Floor, that was added to the original Building at a later date.

As well as viewing the Main Rooms, you can go onto the Roof for views west to the Fountain, and east to the Forth Bridges at Queensferry.

The Estate and the 1400s Midhope Castle, built for the Martin family, were acquired by the Hope family in the mid 1600s. The Hopes accumulated their wealth as Merchants, in the Military, as Lawyers, and gaining high Government positions.

Hopetoun House was built from 1699 with extesions built in 1721 and 1767, with the Mansion now claimed to be the largest in Scotland.

The Hopetoun House Preservation Trust took over the House in 1974 to preserve the House and Grounds.

The House is now open to day visitors, has an excellent Cafe/Restaurant, can be booked for Weddings, Corporate Events, Charity Events, and hosts various Events throughout the year.

Hopetoun House and Midhope Castle have been used in TV and Films such as Outlander.

Midhope Castle is 1 mile west of Hopetoun House, can only be visited by Guided Tour booked through the website.

Hopetoun History

1400s - the Martin Family build a Castle in the area now known as Hopetoun Estate, named Midhope Castle.

1500s - Hope family gain wealth as Merchants with property and land in and around Edinburgh.

1573–1646 - Sir Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet of Craighall, becomes Chief Legal Officer for the Scottish Government and King.

1646 - Sir Thomas Hope dies, buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh.

James Hope becomes a Politician involved in Negotiations during the English Civil War 1642–1651. He is also involved in Industries such as Mineral Mining.

1680 - John Hope, purchases the barony of Niddry Castle from George Seton, with the 1500s Niddry Castle being 4 miles south of where Hopetoun House is today.

1682 - John Hope dies after the ship HMS Gloucester runs aground in England.

1682 - John Hope's son Charles becomes the 1st Earl of Hopetoun taking over Hopetoun Estate and Midhope Castle.

Charles Hope supported the Union with England, served as a Scottish representative Peer at Westminster, acted as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, was Governor of the Bank of Scotland, and was created a Knight of the Thistle.

1688 - 1746 - the Jacobite Risings are the last Wars in the UK, taking place as Hopetoun House is being designed and built.

1699 - 1707 - the original Hopetoun House is built to designs of Sir William Bruce.

1721 - Hopetoun House is extended to designs of William Adam.

1742 - Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun dies, his son John takes the title.

1767 - Hopetoun House is completed to what can be seen today, with the last additions being designed by John and Robert Adam.

1822 - George IV visited Hopetoun House at the end of his State Visit to Scotland.

1823 - John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun dies, he was a General in the British Army seeing action around the world.

1908 - John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun dies, he was created the 1st Marquess of Linlithgow after serving as Governor of Victoria, Australia aged 29, and later became Queen Victoria’s Lord Chamberlain.

1952 - Victor Hope, 8th Earl of Hopetoun dies. He was Civil Lord of the Admiralty from 1922 to 1924, chaired the Royal Commission on Agriculture in India from 1926 to 1928, was made Knight of the Order of the Thistle in 1928, chaired the Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform in 1933, helped formulate the Government of India Act of 1935, was Viceroy and Governor General of India from 1936 to 1943, was created a Knight of the Order of the Garter, was the Chancellor of Edinburgh University from 1944 until his death, and Chairman of Midland Bank.

1987, Charles Hope, 9th Earl of Hopetoun dies, he served in the Second World War, winning a Military Cross. He was taken prisoner with the 51st (Highland) Division in 1940 and held at Colditz Castle. He became a partner in the London stockbrokers Joseph Sebag, and a director of Eagle Star Insurance.

1974 - The Hopetoun House Preservation Trust took over the House, seeing day visits begin and the House used for events to help fund the huge upkeep of such a large property.

Adrian John Charles Hope, Marquess of Linlithgow, currently lives on Hopetoun Estate.

Andrew Christopher Victor Arthur Charles Hope, 11th Earl of Hopetoun, lives in the south wing of Hopetoun House.