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Castles and Mansions of the Lothians

Castles and Mansions of the Lothians
Castles and Mansions of the Lothians
This exhibition features 2 volumes that are held in the Edinburgh & Scottish Collection within Central Library, titled Castles and Mansions of the Lothians.

The mansions are situated throughout the Lothians from Linlithgow in the west to many in East Lothian plus others closer to the centre of the city.

The volumes were published by William Paterson of Edinburgh in 1883. The introduction dated November 1882, states that the photographs were “recently” taken. There are over a hundred photographs and judging by the style of the images, we think it’s likely they were all taken by the same photographer. Unfortunately though, the photographer is not credited. John Small contributed the accompanying historical and descriptive accounts and had “editorial charge” of the volumes. Although, it’s stated that some texts had been revised and in some cases, rewritten by the mansion owners.

The photographs feature grand houses built in an age that allowed owners to display their wealth, often ancestral homes that had been passed down from generation to generation.

Sadly, not all these buildings still exist, and many that do have since become events venues, hotels or B&Bs or have been converted into residential apartments. There are one or two that remain private residences and continue, to display their original splendour to this day.