Penicuik House

After the abortive attempt to get to Penicuik House, I made another attempt to find it today, successfully (still reckon it is very badly signposted). Anyway, once found, it is a real gem, and certainly worth a visit.

It was John Clerk of Pennycuik who, returning to Scotland from France in 1646, purchased the estate and barony of Penicuik, the Penicuik Policies. The estate became the residence and title of his descendants.

Penicuik House was built in 1761 by Sir James Clerk, the 4th Laird of Penicuik and 3rd Baronet. Clerk had travelled widely, especially in Italy, and had studied Italian architecture.

Now a roofless shell, it is constructed of ashlar, it has a central hexastyle portico with two-way stair, piano nobile, basement and Palladian windows. The interior was gutted by fire in 1899, but formerly had many fine rooms. The house was a great meeting point for figures of Enlightenment Edinburgh, who came to see the collection of paintings, including a noted ceiling painting of Ossian's Hall, by Alexander Runciman.

The estate is being restored by the Penicuik House Trust, and I must say is quite stunning to wander round on a beautiful day, like today.

I have blipped the back of the house, as the light was better than at the front, however, I will go back and blip the front with its beautiful portico on another day.

I hope you have all had a good Easter Monday.