Hatton House South Terrace, Wilkieston

Rubble built battered wall with curved bath-house projection at centre and square pavilions. wall; rubble with ashlar dressings. PAVILIONS: 2-stage, square-plan, ogee-roofed classical garden pavilions. Rusticated ashlar at ground level, rubble with harl-pointing at upper level, ashlar dressings, impost and dividing cornices, raised quoins, eaves band and cornice, channelled margins. Entrance to 1st floor from terrace at N; entrance to lower floor from outside to S.

Hatton House was built in the late 17th century by Charles Maitland, subsequently Earl of Lauderdale. The house was the seat of the Lauderdales from 1682-1792. In 1870 the estate was acquired by the Earl of Morton who passed it to his son Lord Aberdour. In more recent times the house belonged to William Whitelaw grandfather of the former MP. The house was burnt in 1952 and demolished in 1955 and the terrace wall, bath house and pavilions along with the garden house and S gates are the only remains of Hatton House. The garden house and S gates are listed separately. In the photographs in JR Findlay's book (1875) the pavilions are unroofed but he does record that in the 1870s repairs and restorations were undertaken by Robert Anderson architect. (Historic Environment Scotland)

Hatton House was one of the great Renaissance houses of Scotland, expanded from an original tower and later Renaissance courtyard by Lord Charles Maitland. Its surrounding policies were equally imposing - parterres, formal gardens and wilderness. (R.Jacques/ C .McKean)

August 2008: External inspection finds the two pavilions are rapidly deteriorating, exposed to the elements and inhabited by pigeons. Vegetation growth has completely obscured the entrance to the bathhouse. All traces of the original gardens have disappeared.

August 2010: Listed building consent and full planning permission to erect new dwelling with associated outbuildings, demolish existing house and make alterations to existing surroundings buildings ref: 10/01823/LBC & 10/01822/FUL is lodged with Edinburgh City Council. The application seeks to retain and repair the terraced garden structure.

June 2011: Since the previous site visit the structures have deteriorated further. Holes are developing in the pavilion roofs as slate loss continues. Trees are growing out of the wallface at the bathhouse resulting in a loss of masonry along the parapet. The applications to retain and repair the structure along with the creation of a new house, remains under consideration.

16 November 2012: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit. Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for a new dwelling and alteration to existing surrounding buildings were withdrawn.

19 February 2015: Inspection finds the site remains in much the same condition as seen previously.

10 November 2020: External investigation shows no significant changes from previous visit. Both pavilions show slow gradual decline continues with no sign of maintenance and central bath house overgrown. Roof intact with holes developing. Main walls appear sound. Window glazing gone and some frames extant.