Historic tower set for modern twist

IT is the final resting place of a British prime minister and the setting for an alleged plot to murder the husband of Mary Queen of Scots.

Now an East Lothian estate with a colourful history is set for a facelift to bring it into the 21st century.

The nephew of the 4th Earl of Balfour wants to revamp parts of the 15th century Whittinghame Tower to give the building more modern conveniences.

Over the years, the A-listed tower near Dunbar has played host to social gatherings involving some of Britain’s greatest minds.

William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli, both former prime ministers, and Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle were among the guests to visit the house.

All three were taken there by Arthur James Balfour, who was himself Prime Minister between 1902 and 1905. Born on the Whittinghame estate, the former Conservative MP now lies buried in a family plot on the grounds.

Most remembered for the Balfour Declaration - which played a crucial part in establishing the principle of Palestine becoming a national Jewish state - he returned to the estate throughout his career, spending his parliamentary vacation time there.

In more recent years, the historic tower was home to the former prime minister’s nephew, Gerald Balfour, the 4th Earl of Balfour, who died in 2002, aged 77. Now, the estates trustees have been given permission by East Lothian Council to carry out renovations on the building.

The work will mostly be carried out on the tower’s Victorian west wing, with the library, windows and roof all being overhauled.

The stone tower itself will be rewired and replumbed, updating work first carried out nearly half a century ago in order to install more modern amenities.

Its interior will also be partly redecorated. One recently restored ceiling from the 17th century boasts heraldic and mystical symbols which Historic Scotland describes as "outstanding".

The trustees have been in careful consultation with Historic Scotland over the work, which also includes the creation of a new garage and estate office nearby.

The plans are designed to make the tower more comfortable for Andrew Brander, nephew of the 4th Earl, who inherited the estate upon his uncle’s death.

Local historian David Affleck has researched the history of the Whittinghame estate and has written articles on the subject.

He said: "It’s a very historical area with many ties to the Balfour family. James Balfour bought the tower in 1817 then built Whittinghame House nearby. That became the family seat, but it was later turned into flats. The last Earl moved back into the tower."

The Earl served in the House of Lords and caused controversy with his right-wing views, including his support for the apartheid regime in South Africa. But locals saw another side to him, including the time he invited the entire village of Whittinghame to his home for fish and chips.

Many historians believe Lord Morton, owner of Whittinghame Tower in the 16th century, plotted the murder of Lord Darnley, the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, on the estate grounds.

An East Lothian Council spokeswoman said: "Whittinghame Tower has a long history and the new work proposed will not impact on some of the older sections of the property."

THE FACTS

WHITTINGHAME Tower was built in the 15th century and provided a home to the Douglas family during the 1500s.

James Douglas, fourth Earl of Morton, became lord high chancellor to Mary Queen of Scots in 1563 and was involved in the murder of her secretary, David Rizzio, in 1566.

After fleeing to England, Douglas returned to Scotland the following year and became involved in the plot to assassinate Mary’s husband, Lord Darnley.

The conspiracy was allegedly hatched in the grounds of Whittinghame estate, with Lord Bothwell among his accomplices.

On the night of February 9, 1567, the house in which Darnley was staying was blown up, and he was found strangled outside.

Whittinghame Tower later came into the possession of the Hays family, but became run down during the 1700s. James Balfour, a merchant who made his fortune in India, purchased the tower in 1817 but decided not to live there.

He built Whittinghame House on the estate and the classical mansion became the family seat and the birthplace of his grandson, the former British Prime Minister AJ Balfour.