Dalmeny House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dalmeny House
Dalmeny House, south front
Location	Dalmeny, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
OS grid reference	NT168780
Built	1817
Built for	Archibald Primrose, 4th Earl of Rosebery
Architect	William Wilkins
Architectural style(s)	Tudor Gothic Revival
Listed Building – Category A
Designated	22 February 1971
Reference no.	LB82
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
Criteria	Work of Art Historical Architectural Scenic Nature Conservation
Designated	1 July 1987
Reference no.	GDL00130
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Dalmeny House (pronounced dal-MEN-ee) is a beautiful old house built in the Gothic Revival style. It is located near Dalmeny in the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland, right by the Firth of Forth.

The house was designed by an architect named William Wilkins and finished in 1817. Today, Dalmeny House is the home of the Earl and Countess of Rosebery. It was the very first house in Scotland to be built in the Tudor Revival style, which looks like old Tudor buildings.

Dalmeny House was built to be much more comfortable than the family's older home, Barnbougle Castle, which is still nearby. Even though it's a private home, you can visit Dalmeny House during the summer months. It is also protected as a special historic building, and its large grounds are recognized as important gardens.

History of Dalmeny House

Early Owners and Barnbougle Castle

Long ago, in the 1200s, the land where Dalmeny House now stands belonged to the Mowbray family. They built a castle called Barnbougle Castle on the estate. In 1402, Sir John Mowbray, who owned the land, was made a knight after a battle.

The Primrose Family Takes Over

In 1662, a new family, the Primroses, bought the estate. Sir Archibald Primrose was the first of his family to own it. His son later became the first Earl of Rosebery in 1703.

In the late 1700s, the 3rd Earl of Rosebery thought about building a new house. He hired famous architects to draw plans, but he decided to focus on improving the estate instead. He planted many trees and built a large walled garden.

Building the New Dalmeny House

His son, Archibald Primrose, became the 4th Earl in 1814. He really wanted a new house. He asked several architects for designs. Finally, he chose William Wilkins, an architect he knew from his time at Cambridge.

Wilkins designed Dalmeny House in the Tudor Gothic style, and it was built in 1817. The design was inspired by an old 16th-century house in England. At the same time, the beautiful gardens and park around the house were also created.

Royal Visitors

Many years later, in 1927, Dalmeny House welcomed some very special guests. Queen Mary and her daughter, Mary, the Princess Royal, visited the house.

Inside Dalmeny House

Room Styles and Collections

While the outside of Dalmeny House looks like an old Gothic castle, many of the main rooms inside are in the elegant Regency style. One special room is the main hall, which has a unique wooden ceiling called a hammerbeam roof.

The house is filled with amazing paintings and furniture. These come from both the Rosebery family and the wealthy Rothschild family. This is because the 5th Earl of Rosebery married Hannah Rothschild in 1878.

Treasures and Memorabilia

Many beautiful French furniture pieces and delicate porcelain items were brought to Dalmeny from the Rothschild family's English mansion, Mentmore. Dalmeny House also has one of the largest collections of items related to the famous French leader Napoleon in all of Britain!

The Dalmeny Estate

Dalmeny House is set within a large, beautiful park with many trees. From the house, you can enjoy wonderful views across the Firth of Forth, which is a large sea inlet.

There is a public path that runs along the shore, stretching from Queensferry in the west to Cramond in the east. There used to be a small boat that would take people across the River Almond to Cramond, but it stopped running in 2000. The estate also still has traditional farms that are rented out.

Visiting Dalmeny House

Dalmeny House is open to the public for special guided tours. This means you can explore some of its amazing rooms with a guide who will tell you all about its history and treasures. Some of the rooms can also be rented for special events like parties or meetings.

Filming Location

Dalmeny House has even been featured in movies! In 2021, it was used as a filming location for a movie called A Castle for Christmas. In the film, it was called 'Dun Dunbar' castle.