History of Carberry Tower

The lands of Carberry Tower were first mentioned in the 11th century when King David I of Scotland granted the site to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey. The first landowner of the site was Jonh de Crebarrie, but it was the Johnstone family who were the first owners of the actual tower.  In 1541, Hugh Rigg, the King's Advocate, leased the lands from the abbey - records suggest that Rigg had an agreement with the Abbot of Dunfermline to lease until 1585. 

The original building was a simple square tower house and was nowhere near as majestic as the property that stands on the site today as it was built more for strength than ornament.  The site where Carberry Tower is located has been witness to some of the most interesting moments in Scottish history. 

In 1567, on Carberry Hill, part of the estate, Mary, Queen of Scots, faced an army assembled by a confederation of her Lords. It was part of the ongoing civil war that surrounded Mary (Queen of Scots) and the ever changing sides that opposed her and supported her. After a hot day of intense battle lasting over 6 hours and with barely anything to drink Mary realised that her men could not carry on and soon surrendered herself to the Lords, and was then imprisoned. A monument, the Queen's Mount, still stands in the grounds commemorating the incident. 

In 1659 the estate passed to Sir Adam Blair of Lochwood, but that family only lived there for 30 years before the property was transferred to Sir Robert Dickson, of Inveresk. In 1745 the tower witnessed another part of history. Sir Dickson's son, also Robert, was the Chief Baillie of Musselburgh when rebel Jacobite troops passed between Carberry and Musselburgh on their way to the Battle of Prestonpans. 

In 1760 the grand tower that stands before you today began to take shape when John Fullerton moved into Carberry Tower. Records suggest that over the years the extensions were being built, piece by piece, in an anti-clockwise direction. John's niece, Elizabeth, married the Honourable William Elphinstone in 1774 and the house passed into the Elphinstone family in 1801. 

William Elphinstone, 15th Lord Elphinstone, inherited the estate in 1861 and it was he who was largely responsible for the complete redesign of the estate. His son, Sydney Herbert, 16th Lord Elphinstone, married Lady Mary Bowes-Lyon, sister of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The couple made great improvements to both the house and estate, particularly the laying out of the formal garden in 1911. 

Lord Sydney died in 1955 and his wife, Lady Mary died six years later in 1961. Lady Mary bequeathed the tower to the Church of Scotland. They used Carberry Tower as a conference centre where they built an annexe and chapel (now the Celidh Hall). In 2004, the Carberry Tower was sold to Gartmore House charitable trust, and in 2008 it underwent major refurbishment. 

In April 2011, Clarenco acquired the property and made more refurbishments, transforming it into the luxurious property that it is whilst still maintaining its stunning and historical architecture. 

According to the history of Carberry Tower the following bedrooms were inhabited at times by the following members of the Royal Family:

206- This room was used by Queen Elizabeth II as a Dressing room on her visit in 1968

207- The bedroom of the late Queen Mother on the many occasions that she visited her sister Mary, with a view of the Rose Garden and Carberry Hill.

211- This room was the Day Nursery with views of the old keep and many a story heard and told by Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret when they visited their cousins.

210- Governesses room- situated between the Day and Night Nurseries.

212- This room was the Night Nursery where the Queen and Princess Margaret slept.