History of the House

The House was built on the remains of the old Dalkeith Castle, a grim, forbidding place with all the accoutrements of a 12th Century fortress - dungeons, torture chambers and some heavy duty fortification - and was home to 'Black Douglas'.

About 1670, when the castle started to decay, the heir to the Buccleuch Family fortune (Duchess Anne) decided that it was time the castle came down and was was replaced in 1700 with a beautiful stately home.

The Dalkeith House was designed by James Smith and added to by all the famous architects of the day, Adam, Playfair and later, William Burn. Today it stands as a testament to the quality of those that built it. While it is no longer a Ducal residence, it is an impressive home to the hundreds of North American students who study there.

The landscaped parklands have evolved from the formality of the 1750’s to the romantic 1850’s onto the utilitarian 1950’s. During First World War the Estate was used as a prisoner of War camp and during the Second World War it was hope to a whole division of tanks.