Hatton House, 17th-century estate with medieval tower in Ratho, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Hatton House is a rectangular manor house in Ratho, Edinburgh, built with circular towers at each corner and a central viewing platform on the roof. The southern side of the building faces a series of wide terraces that run across the grounds.
The original tower on the site dates from 1515 and was later enlarged into a grand residence by Lord Charles Maitland, brother of the Duke of Lauderdale. The main house was demolished in 1955, leaving only parts of the structure standing.
The formal gardens were once laid out with geometric flower beds and small pavilions topped with curved roofs, showing the taste of the wealthy families who owned the estate. Traces of this layout are still faintly visible on the ground today.
The grounds can be viewed from outside, and the foundations of the demolished manor are partially visible from certain angles. Anyone who walks closer to the ruins should take care, as some sections may be unstable underfoot.
King James VI of Scotland stayed here briefly in 1589, using the house as a hunting lodge before leaving in a hurry over fears about disaffected lords nearby. This short royal visit is rarely mentioned and easy to miss when reading about the site.
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