Howden House (West Lothian)
Encyclopedia
Howden House is a late 18th century house in the Howden
area of Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
.
. It was recorded as far back as the 16th century. when it was known as Over Howden.
It was built probably for Thomas Farquharson of Howden, and was completed in 1795. In 1834 it passed to Henry Raeburn, son of the Edinburgh portrait painter Sir Henry Raeburn
. The daughter of the chemist James Young lived in the house until her death in 1931, when it was sold to Sir Adrian Baillie of Polkemmet
, who bought it for his mother, Lady Baillie.
Just after midnight on Tuesday 25 June 1940 a bomb fell on the coach house and stables, killing Mrs Maria Fleming and her granddaughter Margaret, aged 10. These were the first civilians to be killed on the Scottish mainland and West Lothian's only deaths by bombing in World War II
.
Lady Baillie lived at Howden until her death in 1946, when it was bought by the Ministry of Agriculture
, who used the estate to test agricultural machinery.
Livingston, one of Scotland's post-war new town
s, was developed around the estate in the 1960s, with the grounds to the south of the house remaining open as a park. The house was bought by Livingston Development Corporation for use as a community centre, supported by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust
. In 2007, the house was in the hands of private developers, and a scheme for conversion to residential or business use was in progress. As part of the contract between the buyer and West Lothian Council in 2010 the house was handed back to the council who have now offered it up for sale again.
Howden House is a category B listed building.
. In 2009, the centre was extensively refurbished by architects Nicoll Russell Studios
.
Howden, Livingston
Howden is an area of the new town of Livingston, the largest town in West Lothian, Scotland. Howden is bordered by the Town Centre, Ladywell, Kirkton and Craigshill...
area of Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
History
The estate on which the house stands belonged to the Douglas family of PumpherstonPumpherston
Pumpherston is a small dormitory village in West Lothian, Scotland. Originally a small industrial village to the nearby shale mine and works, it now adjoins the new town of Livingston, which was constructed alongside Pumpherston in the late 1960s and quickly grew much larger than its...
. It was recorded as far back as the 16th century. when it was known as Over Howden.
It was built probably for Thomas Farquharson of Howden, and was completed in 1795. In 1834 it passed to Henry Raeburn, son of the Edinburgh portrait painter Sir Henry Raeburn
Henry Raeburn
Sir Henry Raeburn was a Scottish portrait painter, the first significant Scottish portraitist since the Act of Union 1707 to remain based in Scotland.-Biography:...
. The daughter of the chemist James Young lived in the house until her death in 1931, when it was sold to Sir Adrian Baillie of Polkemmet
Polkemmet Country Park
Polkemmet Country Park is located west of the town of Whitburn in West Lothian, Scotland. It is adjacent to the M8 motorway, east of the "Heart of Scotland" services at Harthill. It was developed on the estate of Polkemmet House, a country house which was demolished in the 1960s...
, who bought it for his mother, Lady Baillie.
Just after midnight on Tuesday 25 June 1940 a bomb fell on the coach house and stables, killing Mrs Maria Fleming and her granddaughter Margaret, aged 10. These were the first civilians to be killed on the Scottish mainland and West Lothian's only deaths by bombing in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Lady Baillie lived at Howden until her death in 1946, when it was bought by the Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
, who used the estate to test agricultural machinery.
Livingston, one of Scotland's post-war new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
s, was developed around the estate in the 1960s, with the grounds to the south of the house remaining open as a park. The house was bought by Livingston Development Corporation for use as a community centre, supported by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust is a charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom, established by Scottish-born American steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie on the model of his U.S. foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York....
. In 2007, the house was in the hands of private developers, and a scheme for conversion to residential or business use was in progress. As part of the contract between the buyer and West Lothian Council in 2010 the house was handed back to the council who have now offered it up for sale again.
Howden House is a category B listed building.
Howden Park Centre
The former stable block of the house was converted into an arts centre, which was first opened as Howden Park Centre in 1972, by actor Andrew CruickshankAndrew Cruickshank
Andrew John Maxton Cruickshank was a Scottish supporting actor, most famous for his portrayal of Dr Cameron in the long-running UK BBC television series, Dr Finlay's Casebook, which ran for 191 episodes from 1962 until 1971.-Life and career:Andrew Cruickshank was born to Andrew and Mary...
. In 2009, the centre was extensively refurbished by architects Nicoll Russell Studios
Nicoll Russell Studios, Architects
Nicoll Russell Studios, Architects is an architecture practice based in Dundee, Scotland. The firm was established in 1982 by Andrew Nicoll and Ric Russell as a result of the completion of Dundee Repertory Theatre. Andrew Nicoll has since retired, and the practice is now led by Professor Ric...
.
External links
- Howden House, Livingston
- Howden Park Centre