Skip to Main Content

Buildings

Basic Site Details

Hamilton House
Prestonpans
East Lothian
A listed
Scotland
A 17th century townhouse, Hamilton House was scheduled for demolition in the 1930s under the slum clearance scheme (it had been divided into six single-ends with an outside WC on the wooden stairs). However, Lorna Matthew (wife of architect Robert Matthew) asked architects Frank Mears and Robert Hurd to intervene, and as a result the newly established National Trust for Scotland took it on and carried out the restoration. In 1939 the Matthew family became the Trust\'s first tenants in the house.

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
TownhouseNot Known

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

event classic

Event TypeFromToNotes
1628
1937Restoration

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.

design classic

PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
Neil & HurdA1937Restoration
Norman Alexander Gordon NeilA1937Restoration
Robert Philip Andrew HurdA1937Restoration

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:

client classic

NameNotes
National Trust for ScotlandClient for 1937 restoration

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

bio ref classic

AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Glendinning, Miles2008Modern architect: the life and times of Robert MatthewRIBA Publishingp58
McWilliam, Colin1978Lothian (The Buildings of Scotland)p391

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register17529Preson, Hamilton House