1st Earl of Lauderdale

THE EARLS OF LAUDERDALE WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN BERWICKSHIRE, WITH 24,681 ACRES

The earliest recorded ancestor of this eminent family is SIR RICHARD MAITLAND, regarded as one of the national heroes of Scotland, who acquired Thirlestane, still the seat of the family, by marriage with Avicia, daughter and heiress of Thomas de Thirlestane, and was succeeded by his son,

WILLIAM MAITLAND, of Thirlestane, living ca 1258, who was succeeded by his son,

SIR ROBERT MAITLAND, of Thirlestane, who succeeded ante 1293, and fell at the battle of Neville's Cross, 1346, leaving by his wife, a sister of Sir Robert Keith, Marischal of Scotland, a son,

JOHN MAITLAND, of Thirlestane, who married Agnes Dunbar, sister of George, Earl of March, and left a son,

SIR ROBERT MAITLAND, of Thirlestane, born ca 1369, who wedded Marion Abernethy, and had with other issue a son,

WILLIAM MAITLAND, of Lethington, who espoused Margaret Wardlaw, and died ante 1471, having had a son,

JOHN MAITLAND, apparent of Thirlestane, 1464, but it is not known whether he survived his father.

His wife appears to have been a daughter of the Laird of Dundas, and he left a son, successor to his grandfather,

SIR WILLIAM MAITLAND, of Lethington and Thirlestane, who wedded Martha, daughter of 4th Lord Seton,  by whom he had, with other issue, a son,

SIR RICHARD MAITLAND (1496-1586), of Lethington and Thirlestane, who wedded Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Cranston, and had, with other issue,

William, of Lethington;

JOHN, 1st Baron Maitland.

The second son,

SIR JOHN MAITLAND, was created Lord Maitland of Thirlestane in 1590.

His lordship died five years afterwards, and was succeeded by his only son,

JOHN, 2nd Lord, who was created, in 1616, Viscount Lauderdale; and, in 1624, advanced to the dignities of Viscount Maitland and EARL OF LAUDERDALE.

His lordship wedded Isabella, daughter of Alexander, Earl of Dunfermline, and had issue, two sons and a daughter.

He died in 1645, and was succeeded by his son,

JOHN, 2nd Earl, KG,

1st Duke of Lauderdale KG, by Jacob Huysmans 

Who, having distinguished himself by his zealous and active exertions in the royal cause during the civil wars, was, after the Restoration, installed a Knight of the Garter, and appointed High Commissioner of Scotland. His lordship was created, in 1672, Marquess of March and DUKE OF LAUDERDALE; and enrolled amongst the peers of England, 1674, as Baron Petersham, and Earl of Guildford, in Surrey. His Grace dying, however, without male issue, in 1682, those honours expired, but his hereditary titles devolved upon his brother,

CHARLES, 3rd Earl, who married Elizabeth, daughter and sole heiress of Richard Lauder, of Hutton, by whom he had issue Richard, John, and Charles, successive Earls of Lauderdale, besides three other sons and two daughters.

His lordship died in 1691, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD, 4th Earl, PC, privy counsellor, General of The Mint, and Lord Justice General, 1681-84.

His lordship was outlawed in 1694, for his adhesion to the fortunes of JAMES II; and dying in Paris, without issue, in 1695, the peerage devolved upon his brother,

JOHN, 5th Earl, one of the Lords of Session, under the title of Lord Ravelrig, who wedded the Lady Margaret Cunningham, only child of Alexander, 10th Earl of Glencairn, and heir of line of that ancient family, and had issue, the eldest surviving son,

CHARLES, 6th Earl, who married the Lady Elizabeth Ogilvy, daughter of James, Earl of Findlater and Seafield, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, by whom he had, with other issue, his eldest son,

JAMES (1718-89), 7th Earl, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army, who married, in 1749, Mary, daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas Lombe, alderman of the city of London, and had issue,

JAMES (1759-1839), 8th Earl, KT.

• James Maitland, 8th Earl (1759–1839)
• James Maitland, 9th Earl (1784–1860)
• Anthony Maitland, 10th Earl (1785–1863)
• Thomas Maitland, 11th Earl (1803–78)
  • Thomas Mordaunt Maitland (1838–1844)
• Charles Barclay-Maitland, 12th Earl (1822–84)
• Frederick Henry Maitland, 13th Earl (1840–1924)
• Frederick Colin Maitland, 14th Earl (1868–1931)
• Ian Colin Maitland, 15th Earl (1891–1953)
  • Ivor Colin James Maitland, Viscount Maitland (1915–1943)
• Alfred Sydney Frederick Maitland, 16th Earl (1904–68)
• Patrick Francis Maitland, 17th Earl (1911–2008)
• Ian Maitland, 18th Earl (b 1937).

THIRLESTANE CASTLE sits in extensive parklands near Lauder in the Borders of Scotland.

The site is aptly named Castle Hill, as it stands upon raised ground.

However, the raised land is within Lauderdale, the valley of the Leader Water.

The land has been in the ownership of the Maitland family since 1587, and Thirlestane has served as the seat of the Earls of Lauderdale.

John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale (1616-82), one of the most important Scottish figures of the late 17th century, was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in 1660, a position carrying unrivalled power and influence.

He employed the architect Sir William Bruce to transform the castle into a residence suitable for conducting the affairs of state.

Between 1670-76, the substantial alterations included the addition of the two front towers and the grand staircase, in addition to extensive internal modifications creating lavish staterooms with magnificent plasterwork ceilings.

Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew inherited the castle in 1972 from his maternal grandmother, Ethel, Countess of Lauderdale, wife of the 15th Earl.

At this time, the castle was in a serious state of disrepair, requiring extensive renovation.

In 1984, the castle was gifted to a charitable trust established to ensure its preservation, and major repairs were carried out, assisted by financial grants awarded by the Historic Buildings Council and the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

In addition to the grounds, the castle itself and its interiors, Thirlestane is noted for fine collections of paintings, furniture, porcelain and an historic toy collection.

The castle is normally open to visitors from April until September, however was not open during the 2013 season due to another outbreak of dry rot which is being treated.

First published in November, 2013.