History of Lennoxlove
Maitland Family
Lennoxlove has seen many changes throughout history. In the 1300s it was known as ‘Lethington Tower’ and acquired by the Maitland family in 1345 whose coat of arms are displayed at the original entrance of the house. On many occasions due to its location and closeness to the Scottish/English border Lethington Tower found itself under attack and was reportedly burned by the English in 1549.
Sir Richard Maitland was known to be a judge, a member of the Privy Council and from the period 1562-1567 the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland.
‘The bell’ at lennoxlove
As you walk into the Stewart Room look out for the large bell hanging from the ceiling which we suspect was used to warn occupants of impending danger from these such attacks.
William maitland of lethington
Sir Richard Maitland’s eldest son, William became the Secretary of State to Mary, Queen of Scots and married his second wife, Lady Mary Fleming, one of the Queen’s famous Four Maries.
Politician’s Walk, is believed to be where William Maitland would pace back and forward pondering the problems of the state.
John, the younger son of Sir Richard Maitland was also a reputable stateman. He held the roles of Secretary of State in 1584, Vice Chancellor of Scoland in 1586 and Chancellor in 1587. In 1590 John Maitland the younger son of Sir Richard Maitland was awarded the title of 1st Lord Thirlestane by James VI and held this title until his death in 1595.
His son John, 2nd Lord Thirlestane was granted the title of Viscount Lauderdale by James VI & I in 1616. The Viscount had a son also named John born at Lethington. He would later become the 1st Duke of Lauderdale.
William, 2nd Duke of Hamilton with John, 1st and only Duke of Lauderdale in adulthood.
In 1624 John Maitland, 2nd Lord Thirlestane, Viscount Lauderdale was further bestowed the title of 1st Earl Lauderdale by James VI and I. Two short years later in 1626 the 1st Earl Lauderdale extended and improved living conditions in Lethington Tower with fixtures and fixtures before his death in 1645.
On his death in 1682, John, 1st Duke Lauderdale having had no living male heir passed Lethington to his stepson Lionel, Lord Huntingtower. In turn the Lethington was sold to Sir Thomas Livingston in 1701. Lethington changed owners once again and was sold to the Trustees of Frances Teresa, Duchess of Lennox and Richmond for Walter, Master of Blantyre into the Barony of Lennoxlove. At this point Lethington Tower became more commonly known as ‘Lennoxlove’ in memory of Frances Stuart, Duchess of Lennox ‘la Belle Stuart’.
Lennoxlove would like to thank Dr Rosalind K Marshall, MA, Ph.D., FRSL, FRSA, FSA (Scot),a leading Scottish History writer and historian for her blessing to make reference to her work in the creation of this page.
Her books can be purchased from Birlinn publishers as noted below:
The St Giles’ Cathedral Shop in Edinburgh stocks the publications Discovered Lives and St Giles’, The Dramatic Story of a Great Church and its People. Contact the store here.
Older publications of Dr Rosalind’s work can be purchased from Abebooks online. This list includes her bestseller ‘The Days of Duchess Anne’ who was the seventeenth-century Duchess of Hamilton in her own right after inheriting the Dukedom on the execution of her father.