History and Conservation

Welcome to Hopetoun

Hopetoun House was built by my family over 300 years ago and we have been living here ever since.

Charles Hope (later the 1st Earl of Hopetoun) commissioned Sir William Bruce to build the original House in 1699 and work was largely complete by 1707. In 1721, William Adam was asked to remodel and enlarge the House; the beautiful front that you approach today is his response. The back of the House is still Bruce's original and the two live together in remarkable harmony

Inside you will see interiors from late Georgian through Edwardian, with much of the original decoration and a wonderful collection of pictures, furniture and other contents. These reflect the tastes of a single family over several centuries.

The House, its historic contents and surrounding policies are now owned and managed by a private charitable trust that was set up in 1974 by my father and grandfather. I am fortunate to live at Hopetoun with my family and to sit on the Board of Trustees. We work to maintain and preserve Hopetoun for the enjoyment and education of the public and every person who visits Hopetoun supports us in that aim.

Earl of Hopetoun