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Originally known as Winton Castle, the tower was turned into a Scottish Renaissance gem

Winton House’s remarkable, rich history stretches back over 800 years.  Winton Castle, near Edinburgh, was originally built by the powerful Seton family and has strong connections to Scottish and English royalty, not to mention the Elgin Marbles. After the Setons the castle passed to the well connected Hamilton Nisbets and it has been lived in by the Ogilvy family since the 1920’s.

Over the last 10 years Winton House has become a successful exclusive use venue, a ‘castle for hire’, for hosted bespoke events for blue chip companies from the UK and Europe, as well as for private parties. The events team runs corporate dinners and lunches, conferences and meetings, product launches, private parties, romantic weddings, and even offers top notch bed and breakfasts. Activities and team-building events such as clay pigeon shooting (with 22 times Scottish champion Billy Gordon), highland games with a Winton twist, and falconry all take place in the grounds.

Norman the Conqueror and the Setons

Robert FitzPicot ‘de Say’ fought with Norman the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Robert’s descendant Phillip ‘de Sayton’ was granted the lands of Winton, Seton and Winchburgh by David 1 of Scotland in 1150. His grandson went on to marry the sister of King Robert ‘The Bruce’ of Scotland, and then began almost six centuries of Setons at Winton.

The Seton family was heavily involved in the Wars of Independence in the 14th century including the Siege of Berwick and the Battle of Bannockburn. They held important positions of state: Mary Seton was Lady-in-Waiting to Mary Queen of Scots; Robert, the 4th Lord Seton, was the Lord of Session; and Alexander, (the brother of the 1st Earl) became Earl of Dunfermline and Chancellor of Scotland.

Burnt to the ground

A tower was built at Winton in about 1480 when the Seton’s main seat was nearby at Seton Palace by Longniddry. In the sixteenth century, the Setons were caught up in the aggression of the Earl of Hertford, and under Henry VIII’s orders, Winton was burnt by the English Army in 1544 around the time of the siege of Haddington. Apparently Henry VIII was trying to woo and impress the beautiful Mary Queen of Scots for his son Edward. The thick walls of the vaulted basement survived the fire and live on today, now known as the Vaulted Cellar. This atmospheric room is used for whisky tastings, Champagne and wine tastings, breakfasts and intimate lunches.

A Scottish Renaissance gem

When the 6th Lord Seton was made 1st Earl of Winton in 1600, he set about making a home out of the ruin. The work was continued by his nephew, the 3rd Earl, who engaged the services of William Wallace, the King’s Master Mason. Wallace was responsible for many prestigious projects at the time and the ruined tower was transformed into one of the finest examples of Scottish Renaissance architecture with its intricate ceilings and remarkable carved, twisted chimneys.

The Tower of London

The Seton’s tenure lasted until 1715 when the Earl of Winton ended up in the Tower of London for backing the Jacobites. The Earl’s capture meant that kings were no longer entertained at Winton.

In the Earl’s name, in 1745 Winton was requisitioned by Bonnie Prince Charlie when his rebel army camped on Winton Estate.

The Hamilton Nisbets

The Hamilton Nisbets, who bought the House and Estate, linked it to the impressive estates of Archerfield, Biel and Innerwick. Furnishings were brought back from Europe and the Turkish Empire, and golf was played the estate land, which included Muirfield and Gullane Links. Winton House, like the other grand houses on their estates, was built for entertaining, and played host to some extravagant Victorian parties.

The Ogilvys

The Ogilvys from Angus were linked to Winton by marriage in 1888. The families’ paths had crossed on battlefields for seven centuries (usually on the same side) and in parliament. Following the death of Constance Nisbet Hamilton Ogilvy in 1920, Winton developed as a single estate again, still with its treasures intact. 

Winton House remains first and foremost a family home, now with the sound of Sir Francis and Lady Ogilvy’s four young children. The House retains is beauty, tranquility, grandeur and warmth, as captured in its strapline ‘intimacy on a grand scale’. Private and corporate parties are welcomed as genuinely as royalty were in the past.

A private party and ceilidh at Winton House near Edinburgh

A blog by Grace Holtkamp from North Carolina who held a private party at Winton House in late June to celebrate her graduation from Edinburgh University.

Provided on an exclusive use basis, Winton House is an outstanding hospitality venue for bespoke private parties, family celebrations, special birthdays and milestone anniversaries.

Grace Holtkamp gives the background to her exclusive private party: “we had a ceilidh to celebrate my graduation from Edinburgh University with about 45 guests, cocktails on arrival and a selection of delicious buffet food.

“Our guests were family members as well as university friends and their families and dates. They came from Scotland as well as America, Norway, and Switzerland.

“Months later our guests are still talking about our party at Winton. The young couples found the House romantic, and the parents were greatly impressed by the level of professionalism of the staff and the sophistication of the venue. Finally, the grandparents were happy to find that the seating, acoustics and temperature of the venue made them feel very comfortable.

“Overall, many of our guests commented that the night was special because it brought everyone together ‘under one roof’. The feeling of being in a private home encouraged everyone to meet and mingle, and guests who did not know each other enjoyed sharing the experience of appreciating Winton House together. Many left as friends when they’d arrived as strangers.

Guests mingling in the ballroom

“The dancing and music went very well. The food was delicious and everyone got so excited to be eating and chatting amid the lovely art and furniture of Winton’s rooms. They couldn’t stop taking pictures and the conversation flowed.

“The quality of Winton’s hospitality is outstanding. We had never held such a large or formal event before. Being from overseas we were somewhat intimidated by the prospect, but we were so well taken care of every step of the way that we were relieved we’d chosen Winton.

“Winton House is remarkable because of its history, beauty, and location. Many venues tick all these boxes but are not, in the end, very family friendly, because they lose some degree of warmth and friendliness in their commitment to elegance or formality.

“Winton stands out in contrast to these venues, because the staff are as welcoming and encouraging as they are professional. Every guest was welcomed personally and the tours of the House told everyone its history.

“An hour or so into the event I think most of us really did feel as if it were our own home for the night, because we certainly loved it as if it were.”

Winton House's south-facing terraced gardens

(Based on an interview with Toby Subiotto, Head Gardener)

 At Winton House we aim to manage and develop our gardens and grounds sustainably; we grow a lot of our own plants, encourage wildlife, recycle what we can – water, pots and compost – and minimize the use of pesticides.

Planting

Winton’s plant stock is developed by division and potting on. Some 1,000 plants are cultivated annually from cuttings and seeds. We try to use peat-free compost as much as possible.

Nearly all our bedding plants are grown from seeds or cuttings as are many other plants like bulbs. These include lilies, crocuses, irises, tulips, sweet peas, marguerites, geraniums, salvias and fuchsias. Some shrubs are also propagated from cuttings.

Other plants are sourced from local nurseries and, as much as possible, from Scottish nurseries, reducing our carbon miles.

The garden and planting is done so that it is as wildlife-friendly as possible. Some areas are left wild and not over-cultivated or kept too tidy. Consequently, the garden attracts butterflies, ducks, herons, geese, buzzards, woodpeckers, fieldfares, house martins and swallows, and even partridge, hares, roe deer and badgers.

We have areas of natural and old coppiced woodland areas, open meadow and grassland, as well as a range of aquatic and marginal habitats which are home to dragonflies, toads, frogs, coots, moorhens, herons and cormorants.

Recycling

Water is collected and recycled using water butts from our glasshouse and poly tunnel roof, and used to water the plants that we propagate.

We recycle all plastic pots, seed trays and larger pots, wherever possible.

To keep green garden waste to a minimum, we either leave plant cuttings on the beds, which is mulched over or left over winter, or take away cuttings for composting.

Winton’s gardens are fertilized with up to 40 tons of mulch a year from a local mushroom farm and from cattle on an Estate farm. This is composted by being mixed with bark and green chippings from the Estate woodlands for 2 years, then spread on the beds.

Winton’s approach to composting increases fertility, ‘opens up’ our heavy clay soil and reduces annual weed germination. It also conserves moisture and reduces the need for irrigation during our frequent hot spells (yes, we get some and the garden is predominantly south-facing!).

Chemicals

Keeping the soil healthy and productive reduces the need for pesticides. Weed killer is only ever applied to paths and wall edges when deemed necessary. Chemical usage has dramatically been reduced in recent years. Borders are hand weeded. Wild areas are strimmed twice each year.

Chemical spraying is only used reactively when required to control pests under glass and not applied as a preventative measure.

Cut flowers from the garden are used for many of the flower arrangements in the House; these are created by Hazel Parker, Winton’s multi-talented Head Housekeeper.

Culinary herbs, fruit, such as apples, pears, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants, and vegetables grown in the garden are used in the House and by staff. Some preserves and chutneys are also made.

Fuel

Our petrol driven ride-on mower has been converted to run on LPG saving a huge amount on our annual fuel bill. The extensive lawns take 2 days to cut during the summer!

Other machinery runs either on a 2 stroke petrol mix or more efficient diesel.

Last Friday was a fabulous Scottish spring day at Winton House near Edinburgh. Warm enough for a corporate BBQ and picnic with rides in classic cars for entertainment. This event was brought to Winton by our partners at Hello Scotland.

Click on this link to go to Flickr to see some photos of the event (ideally click on the slide show icon on the right of the Flickr page).

Claire Scott at Hello Scotland, the corporate incentive agency, makes some comments below on why they chose Winton House for their event and how things went on the day.
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by Sir Francis Ogilvy

There has always been a Christmas tradition at Winton, although, by design, it tends to be a bit different each year. Whether we go back to my grand parents’ period between the Wars or my parents era after the 1960s, the essence has not changed; there have been gatherings involving people from the Estate, often with a focus on the children.

We always had a large, 10 foot tree with a crib underneath displaying the nativity scene, as we still have today; this was decorated by the children staying at the time. It often had real candles so they needed a little help! If candles were lit, a watchman would stand by with a damp sponge on the end of a long pole (at that time our fire alarm was a large hand bell!).
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