Cowdenknowes (9)
From the Homes, Cowdenknowes passed to the Hamilton Earls of Haddington and eventually, in quite recent times, to a family from England called Harden. While the Hardens no longer own Cowdenknowes House, they have retained the barony, presumably for their own aggrandisement - a most regrettable habit in my opinion. Retaining the barony on selling an estate used to be achieved by keeping a small part of the property (sometimes just a field!) for oneself, however recent legislative changes in Scotland have got rid of all connections between baronies and the land they were created to be associated with.
In 1883, the house built by Sir John Home of Cowdenknowes and his son, Sir James Home and his son, Sir James Home of Synlawis and Cowdenknows, was largely demolished to make way for a grand Victorian replacement. Shame really! It was at this time that the new front entrance was slapped through the base of Sir John's tower-house! Anyway, it does look to be a very pleasant house - as the recent sales particulars, which are still on the internet, show!
Incidentally, Cowden is a derivation of 'Colltuinn', the old Scots word for a hazel tree, and a knowe of course, is a hill, so the name means Hazel Hill.
Cowdenknowes (9)
From the Homes, Cowdenknowes passed to the Hamilton Earls of Haddington and eventually, in quite recent times, to a family from England called Harden. While the Hardens no longer own Cowdenknowes House, they have retained the barony, presumably for their own aggrandisement - a most regrettable habit in my opinion. Retaining the barony on selling an estate used to be achieved by keeping a small part of the property (sometimes just a field!) for oneself, however recent legislative changes in Scotland have got rid of all connections between baronies and the land they were created to be associated with.
In 1883, the house built by Sir John Home of Cowdenknowes and his son, Sir James Home and his son, Sir James Home of Synlawis and Cowdenknows, was largely demolished to make way for a grand Victorian replacement. Shame really! It was at this time that the new front entrance was slapped through the base of Sir John's tower-house! Anyway, it does look to be a very pleasant house - as the recent sales particulars, which are still on the internet, show!
Incidentally, Cowden is a derivation of 'Colltuinn', the old Scots word for a hazel tree, and a knowe of course, is a hill, so the name means Hazel Hill.