Image: Haddington House by james denham, sourced from Wikimedia Commons and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
A seventeenth-century town house, later enlarged and rescued from decline, now supports offices beside a public historic garden.
Quick facts
- Date
- 17th century; porch dated 1680; restored 1970
- Architect / designer
- Built for Alexander Maitland; restored for the Lamp of Lothian
- Type
- Historic town house and garden
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB34388)
- OS grid reference
- NT 51740 73720
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
Crowstepped gables, rubble walls, harled elevations and a dated entrance porch preserve the character of a substantial post-medieval house. A later wing and the enclosed garden record domestic growth and modern reuse.
Its story
The house was built for Alexander Maitland and acquired a porch dated 1680. Regency-period enlargement altered the domestic complex; restoration in 1970 for the Lamp of Lothian secured the building and established its modern community role.
Why it is included
The Category A house connects prosperous burgh domestic architecture with careful restoration, cultural philanthropy, present-day work and a valued green space.
What to notice
- Crowstepped gables and varied roofline.
- The entrance porch dated 1680.
- Relationship between the old house, later wing and garden.
Reading the surroundings
The garden is presented for public enjoyment, but the house contains working office suites. Use advertised entrances, respect occupiers and events, and do not assume access to offices or private rooms.
Timeline
- 17th century A substantial town house was built for Alexander Maitland.
- 1680 The dated entrance porch marked an important domestic improvement.
- 1970 Lamp of Lothian restoration rescued and adapted the historic property.
- 2026 Office suites operate beside a community-managed garden.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The earliest fabric is not documented by a single construction date, and later domestic phases overlap within the surviving house.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Haddington House, LB34388 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Lamp of Lothian: Haddington House — Current office and garden use, community stewardship and concise restoration history.
- Paterson Architects: Haddington House — Professional conservation context for the historic house and later alterations.
Location
OS grid reference NT 51740 73720 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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