OS1/13/83/19

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 19


" Airdrie House which is Situated in one of the most beautiful and commanding positions in the parish is embosomed in wood in every direction except the South whence the finest view is to be had but liKe the other ancient dwellings it is no longer the habitation of a belted Knight or noble peer. Yet the ancient tower and most of the walls of the Original house remain entire though the enterior arrangements to modern taste. Of this place Says "in King David II's [The Second's] reign I found it belonged to Dundemore of that ilk. Afterwards it Came to the Lumsdens who had it in 1466." The family of Lumsden possessed it until at least the end of the 16th Century as is proved by a fine monument erected in the churchyard of date 1598. From the Lumsdens Says the Same writer it was purchased by Sir John Preston of PennycuiK President of the Court of Session in King James VI's time though it would appear he inherited it through his lady. This Baronet Seems along with many of the gentlemen in his neighbourhood to have Keenly espoused the Cause of Charles I, and to have been Subjected to pains and penalties in Consequence. For within a month after the death of that ill fated monarch we find in the record of the KirK Session in February 1649 that Lord Balcomie Sir John Preston of Airdrie Lawrence Cunningham of Barns John Lindsay of Wormistone and a number of others whose names are mentioned, had to appear before the Congregation to acknowledge publicly their Sinful engagement and Sign the Covenant. In the Seventeenth Century Airdrie became the property of General Anstruther who greatly enlarged the house by the addition of two wings, of which the one was a large and lofty hall with figures in niches, picture on the walls many chandeliers for lights and a Splendid Chimney-piece of white marble which he brought workmen from Italy to execute. After the general's death the estate was purchased by Methven Erskine Esq. afterwards Earl of Kellie, who died there in 1830, upon

Transcriber's notes

Continued on page 20