Smeaton House
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| Smeaton House | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of the Smeaton House area | |
| General information | |
| Location | Scotland |
Smeaton House, which was originally known as Smeaton Castle - in 18th century as East Park House - and most recently as Dalkeith Home Farm, appears originally to have been a courtyard castle, dating from the 15th century.[1] It was rebuilt in the 16th century by Robert Richardson, and in the 18th century as a Classical house, attributed to James Smith (architect for the Buccleuch family). This was a 3-storey U-plan opening to the east. Less than half of that house remains.
The structure is now a property of the Buccleuch Estates, and is a dwelling house, adjacent to the farm buildings and cottages of the Home Farm of Dalkeith Palace Estate, lying well within the estate perimeter wall.
It is 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland and 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Inveresk, East Lothian.[2]
In 1450 the lands on which Smeaton Castle was built were the property of the Abbey of Dunfermline. Thereafter the house and lands passed to the Richardson family.[2]
Robert Richardson (d. 1578) was treasurer of Scotland, and is said to have built a new house at Smeaton in 1577. He raised money for Regent Moray by pawning the personal jewellery of Mary, Queen of Scots. These items included a gold chain belt of pearl knots and a hair garnishing with 57 diamonds which his son James Richardson returned to Holyrood Palace on 18 March 1580.[3]
The inhabitants of Smeaton, Inveresk, and Monktonhall complained about the Richardsons in 1581 to the Privy Council. By long tradition they were tenants of Dunfermline Abbey and they objected to the new "feu" of the lands obtained by the Richardsons from Mary, Queen of Scots. The villagers claimed that the Richardsons had undertaken not to disturb their rights and tenancies, but in fact had exacted higher rents.[4]
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus died at Smeaton on 4 August 1588. His illness was attributed to witchcraft and Barbara Napier and Euphame MacCalzean were accused.[5]
In the 1590s James VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark frequently stayed nearby at Dalkeith Palace, and Anne sometimes dined at Smeaton, as she did on 8 August 1598.[6]