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History
The original house was built in 1782 and enlarged in 1854. An
excellent example of Scottish Baronial style. Set in 4 acres
of quiet, wooded garden.
This building, constructed on the site of the old Smithfield
House, was erected in 1782 by Alexander Stevenson, Sheriff Deputy
of Peebleshire.
Alexander Stevenson was succeeded
in ownership by his sisters who, in their turn, sold the house
to Ludovic Grant in 1790 and it was then conveyed to William
Grant in 1793.
The house was bought by Major
Archibald Erskine in 1798 and, on his death, was conveyed to
James Elphinstone Erskine in 1862.
James Erskine with his wife Margaret Constable extended the house
to its present size, by the addition of the further storey and
the large south wing in 1892. The house was then sold to Mr Richard
Davidson, a retired tea planter, whose widow sold the house to
Miss Walton in 1946.
In 1948 the house was bought
by Mr Alexander Cumming and his wife, Jean Brownlee. They intended
to operate it as an hotel immediately, but were unable to pay
a tax known as the "development tax" which was levied
on people turning a private house into a business. Alexander
Cumming fought to have this tax abolished and his success is
now recorded in Hansard.
Venlaw Castle Hotel opened
in 1949. In 1972, on the death of Alexander, his son Alastair
assumed his father's share of the business and operated the hotel
with his mother and wife,
Janet Hamilton. Alistair's mother, Jean Brownlee, died in 1994.
The hotel was closed on 3rd January 1999 for a major refurbishment
and re-opened on Friday 5th March 1999. In addition to complete
redecoration, new carpets and new curtains were fitted. A new
heating and hot water system was installed and all the bathrooms
were replaced.
The hotel now operates as a year-round business under the direction
of John and Shirley Sloggie. A pictorial history of the hotel
is displayed on the ground floor corridor.
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