Lordship and Barony of Hailes facts for kids

The Lordship and Barony of Hailes is a very old and important title of land ownership in Scotland. It's like having a special kind of noble rank and control over certain lands, which in this case included Hailes Castle.

The story of Hailes began a long time ago. People believe an Englishman first received these lands. He was a prisoner during the time of David II of Scotland. This Englishman was rewarded because he bravely saved the Earl of Dunbar and March from a charging horse.

Later, in 1343, Patrick de Dunbar, 9th Earl of March, gave the lands of Hailes to Adam de Hepburn. The Hepburn family then held Hailes for many years. On December 20, 1451, King James II made the lands of Hailes even more important. He granted them to Sir Patrick Hepburn, making it a "free barony." This meant it was directly held from the King. In 1453, Sir Patrick Hepburn also became a peer in the Parliament of Scotland, which meant he had a special high rank, and was known as Lord Hailes.

The Hepburn family kept the Lordship and Barony of Hailes until December 20, 1567. At that time, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, lost it to the Parliament of Scotland. After this, the ownership changed hands several times. In 1594, it went to Sir Walter Scott, 1st Lord Scott of Buccleuch. The Scott family held it until around 1650, when the Cromwellian invasion happened. Then, the Earls of Winton took possession. In 1692, Sir David Dalrymple acquired it, and it stayed with the Dalrymple family until 1876. Finally, A.J. Balfour, who later became the 1st Earl of Balfour, took ownership.

The main place, or "headquarters," of the Lordship and Barony of Hailes is Hailes Castle.

Early Barons of Hailes

Before it became a Lordship granted by the King, Hailes was a barony held from the Earl of March. Here are some of the people who held this barony:

Lords and Barons of Hailes

On December 20, 1451, King James II made Hailes a Lordship and Barony directly from the King. This made it a more important title. Here are the people who held this special title:

a: From 2003 until 2008, the Lordship and Barony of Hailes was held by the estate of the late Gerald Balfour, 4th Earl of Balfour