Haddo House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haddo House |
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| General information | |
| Location | Near Tarves in Aberdeenshire |
| Coordinates | 57°24′11″N 2°13′13″W / 57.4030°N 2.2204°W |
| Completed | 1732 |
| Owner | The Gordons |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Adam |
Haddo House is a grand old home in Scotland. It is located near a village called Tarves in Aberdeenshire. This beautiful house is about 20 miles north of the city of Aberdeen. Since 1979, the National Trust for Scotland has looked after Haddo House. They make sure everyone can visit and learn about its long history.
Contents
Exploring Haddo House
A Home for Centuries
The Gordon family has lived on this land for over 500 years! They later became known as the Earls and Marquesses of Aberdeen. Haddo House was built in 1732. It stands near where their old home, Kellie Castle, used to be. That castle was burned down a long time ago.
The famous architect William Adam designed Haddo House. He used a style called Georgian Palladian. This means it has a balanced and grand look, like old Roman buildings. But inside, the house looks very different! It was updated in 1880 in a late Victorian style.
Amazing Art and History
Haddo House is full of amazing art. You can see a collection of 85 paintings of castles by James Giles. There's also an early painting by Claude Lorrain. A painting of the Madonna, which some believe was painted by Raphael, is also there. You can also find many portraits of important British politicians from the 1800s.
The Canadian Dinner Service
One special item is the Cabot Commemorative State Dinner Service. This is a beautiful set of hand-painted porcelain dishes. It has twenty-four settings for an eight-course meal! Women from the Woman's Art Association of Canada made it in 1897.
The Canadian government did not want to buy it at first. So, members of the Canadian Parliament bought it themselves. They gave it to Lady Aberdeen in 1898. This was when her husband finished his time as the Governor-General of Canada. A Governor-General is like the King or Queen's representative in a country.
Building and Design Details
John Smith helped design the kitchens and other buildings around Haddo House in 1843. He also built the gatehouses at the north and south entrances in 1845. These small buildings are made of rough granite and look like a Tudor style.
Famous Residents and Special Times
One of the most famous people who lived at Haddo House was George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen. He was the British Prime Minister from 1852 to 1855. The Prime Minister is the main leader of the government.
Haddo House also played a special role during World War II. It became a hospital for mothers from Glasgow who needed a safe place to have their babies. Nearly 1200 babies were born there! They are lovingly called the "Haddo Babies" and many still come back to visit.
Music and Performances
The house has a small chapel attached to it. In the grounds, there is also a theatre called Haddo House Hall. There are also rehearsal rooms called the Peatyards. The Haddo House Choral & Operatic Society (HHCOS) uses these spaces. This large singing group started in 1945. For over sixty years, they have been known for their yearly musical and opera shows.
