Hatton House, 17th-century estate with medieval tower in Ratho, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Hatton House is a rectangular mansion in Ratho featuring circular towers at its corners and a central viewing platform on top. The building is defined on its southern side by substantial terraces that extend across the property.
The original tower dates from 1515 but was later expanded into a grand mansion by Lord Charles Maitland, brother of the Duke of Lauderdale. This transformation made it an important residence for an influential family in the region.
The estate's formal gardens featured elaborate parterres arranged with care, surrounded by distinctive pavilions with curved roofs that displayed the owners' refined taste in landscape design. These structures reflected the aesthetic preferences of the wealthy families who lived here.
The estate can be viewed from outside, with foundations of the original manor house partially visible following its demolition in 1955. The ruins and surviving structures require care when exploring, as some parts may be unstable.
King James VI of Scotland used Hatton House briefly as a hunting lodge in 1589 but left quickly due to concerns about disaffected lords. This fleeting royal visit is an overlooked part of the site's history.
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