Brucefield House
Encyclopedia
Brucefield is an 18th-century country house in Clackmannanshire
, Scotland
. It is located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of Clackmannan
. The house was largely built in 1724 by Alexander Bruce, younger of Kennet
. It was restored in the early 20th century, and is now protected as a Category A listed building.
during the War of the Spanish Succession
, and also fought on the government side during the Jacobite rising
of 1715. Bruce married Mary Balfour, daughter of Robert Balfour, 4th Lord Balfour of Burleigh
, in 1714. Ten years later he built or substantially remodelled the house of Brucefield. The location of the house was described by the diarist John Ramsay of Ochtertyre (1736–1814) as being "upon the top of a moor without a tree". The house passed to Alexander's son Robert (1718–1785), who became a Lord of Session under the title Lord Kennet. Around 1758 he sold Brucefield House to George Abercromby of Tullibody
, whose daughter he had married in 1754. George Abercromby's son, Sir Ralph Abercromby
(1734–1801), was a prominent soldier in the Napoleonic Wars
.
During the 1930s the house was restored for the Bruce family by the architect James Shearer. It is now the home of the current Lord Balfour of Burleigh, a descendent of the 4th Lord Balfour of Burleigh through the Bruces of Kennet.
series suggests that the central block was newly-built in 1724, and attributes the south pavilion to c.1760, and the north pavilion to the early 19th century.
The original entrance was on the east front, where a window now takes the place of the main door. A 19th-century porch now forms the entrance from the west. Above the porch is a panel carved with the arms
of Alexander Bruce and Mary Balfour. This panel was moved to the Bruce's other property, Kennet House (now demolished) in 1760, but was returned during the 1930s restorations. The interiors were mostly remodelled at the same time, though several 18th-century chimney pieces survive.
An 18th-century walled garden
is located to the south of the house. To the north is Brucefield Mains, the former stables, which dates from the early 18th century and was restored as a dwelling in 2009. The main feature of the stables is the central tower containing a doocot
(pigeon house).
Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire, often abbreviated to Clacks is a local government council area in Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife.As Scotland's smallest historic county, it is often nicknamed 'The Wee County'....
, 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...
. It is located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of Clackmannan
Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire
Clackmannan , is a small town set in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated within the Forth Valley, Clackmannan is south-east of Alloa and south of Tillicoultry...
. The house was largely built in 1724 by Alexander Bruce, younger of Kennet
Kennet, Clackmannanshire
Kennet is a small former coal mining village in Clackmannanshire, Scotland. It is located south-east of Clackmannan, by the Kincardine railway line. The village is a conservation area, designated by Clackmannanshire Council....
. It was restored in the early 20th century, and is now protected as a Category A listed building.
History
Alexander Bruce (d.1747) was a soldier who fought in FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
during the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
, and also fought on the government side during the Jacobite rising
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
of 1715. Bruce married Mary Balfour, daughter of Robert Balfour, 4th Lord Balfour of Burleigh
Lord Balfour of Burleigh
Lord Balfour of Burleigh, in the County of Kinross, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1607 for Sir Michael Balfour. He was succeeded by his daughter Margaret, the second holder of the title. She married Robert Arnot, who assumed the surname of Balfour in lieu of Arnot, and...
, in 1714. Ten years later he built or substantially remodelled the house of Brucefield. The location of the house was described by the diarist John Ramsay of Ochtertyre (1736–1814) as being "upon the top of a moor without a tree". The house passed to Alexander's son Robert (1718–1785), who became a Lord of Session under the title Lord Kennet. Around 1758 he sold Brucefield House to George Abercromby of Tullibody
Tullibody
Tullibody is a town set in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies north of the River Forth near to the foot of the Ochil Hills within the Forth Valley. The town is south-west of Alva, north-west of Alloa and east-northeast of Stirling...
, whose daughter he had married in 1754. George Abercromby's son, Sir Ralph Abercromby
Ralph Abercromby
Sir Ralph Abercromby was a Scottish soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.He twice served as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire, and was...
(1734–1801), was a prominent soldier in the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
During the 1930s the house was restored for the Bruce family by the architect James Shearer. It is now the home of the current Lord Balfour of Burleigh, a descendent of the 4th Lord Balfour of Burleigh through the Bruces of Kennet.
Architectural history
Brucefield House comprises a three-storey central block, with a three-storey northern pavilion, and a two-storey pavilion to the south. Different interpretations of the development of the house have been published. Adam Swan states that the 18th-century house was a rebuilding of the 15th-century hunting lodge of Hartshaw, belonging to the Stewarts of Rosyth, and that the stone spiral stair in the north pavilion is a surviving part of this. According to this interpretation, Alexander Bruce remodelled the existing building in a contemporary style, and added the south pavilion. However, the Stirling and Central Scotland volume of the Buildings of ScotlandPevsner Architectural Guides
The Pevsner Architectural Guides are a series of guide books to the architecture of the British Isles. Begun in the 1940s by art historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, the 46 volumes of the Buildings of England series were published between 1951 and 1975. The series was then extended to Scotland and...
series suggests that the central block was newly-built in 1724, and attributes the south pavilion to c.1760, and the north pavilion to the early 19th century.
The original entrance was on the east front, where a window now takes the place of the main door. A 19th-century porch now forms the entrance from the west. Above the porch is a panel carved with the arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Alexander Bruce and Mary Balfour. This panel was moved to the Bruce's other property, Kennet House (now demolished) in 1760, but was returned during the 1930s restorations. The interiors were mostly remodelled at the same time, though several 18th-century chimney pieces survive.
An 18th-century walled garden
Walled garden
A walled garden is specifically a garden enclosed by high walls for horticultural rather than security purposes, though traditionally all gardens have been hedged about or walled for protection from animal or human intruders...
is located to the south of the house. To the north is Brucefield Mains, the former stables, which dates from the early 18th century and was restored as a dwelling in 2009. The main feature of the stables is the central tower containing a doocot
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
(pigeon house).