Black Barony
Encyclopedia
Black Barony, also known as Blackbarony, Barony Castle, and Darnhall, is a historic house at Eddleston
in the Scottish Borders
area of Scotland
. The house is currently operated as a hotel, and is protected as a Category B listed building.
, built by the Murrays of Blackbarony
, form the oldest part of the building. Sir Alexander Murray, 2nd Baronet, purchased the nearby estate of Cringletie
in 1666. Sir Archibald Murray, 3rd Baronet
(died c.1700) was a soldier and from 1689 served as "Sole Master of Work, Overseer, and Director-General of their Majesties' buildings
" to King William II
and Queen Mary II
, filling the post which had been vacant since Sir William Bruce's dismissal in 1678.
The house was extended in the 18th century, resulting in the present facade. In 1771 Black Barony passed to the Murrays of Elibank
, who retained ownership until 1930. Further enlargements were made in the 19th century, and in the first half of the 20th century the house was converted to hotel use. , the hotel is operated by De Vere Group.
Eddleston
Eddleston is a small village and civil parish in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It lies north of Peebles and south of Penicuik on the A703, which passes through the centre of the village. The Eddleston Water runs through the village....
in the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
area of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The house is currently operated as a hotel, and is protected as a Category B listed building.
History
The remains of a 16th-century tower houseTower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
, built by the Murrays of Blackbarony
Murray Baronets
There have been several Murray Baronetcies, all created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. Four of these baronetcies are still extant.-Murray Baronets, of Cockpool :*Sir Richard Murray, 1st Baronet...
, form the oldest part of the building. Sir Alexander Murray, 2nd Baronet, purchased the nearby estate of Cringletie
Cringletie
Cringletie is a Scottish Baronial house by the Eddleston Water, around south of Eddleston in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former Peeblesshire. Designed by David Bryce and built in 1861, the house is a Category B listed building...
in 1666. Sir Archibald Murray, 3rd Baronet
Sir Archibald Murray, 3rd Baronet
Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarony, 3rd Baronet , was a Scottish soldier and Gentleman.He was the son of Sir Alexander Murray, 2nd Baronet of Blackbarony, Sheriff of Peeblesshire , and Margaret Cockburn...
(died c.1700) was a soldier and from 1689 served as "Sole Master of Work, Overseer, and Director-General of their Majesties' buildings
Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland
The Master of Works to the Crown of Scotland was responsible for the construction, repair and maintenance of royal palaces, castles and other crown property in Scotland. The main buildings were; Holyroodhouse; Edinburgh Castle; Stirling Castle; Linlithgow Palace; and Falkland Palace. The position...
" to King William II
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
and Queen Mary II
Mary II of England
Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...
, filling the post which had been vacant since Sir William Bruce's dismissal in 1678.
The house was extended in the 18th century, resulting in the present facade. In 1771 Black Barony passed to the Murrays of Elibank
Lord Elibank
Lord Elibank, of Ettrick Forest in the County of Selkirk, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1643 for Sir Patrick Murray, 1st Baronet, with remainder to his heirs male whatsoever. He had already been created a Baronet, of Elibank, in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia in 1628. His...
, who retained ownership until 1930. Further enlargements were made in the 19th century, and in the first half of the 20th century the house was converted to hotel use. , the hotel is operated by De Vere Group.
External links
- Barony Castle, Peebles, DeVere Venues