History of Lennoxlove
Blantyre Family
Lennoxlove remained in the Blantyre family for a little under 200 years. Walter, Master of Blantyre after the death of his father, Alexander in 1704 became the 6th Lord Blantyre. On his death Walter’s brother Robert succeeded him as the 7th Lord Blantyre and who married Lady Helen Lyon, daughter of the Earl of Strathmore. Their marriage was short-lived due to her death a few years later. He went on marry Margaret Hay, daughter of William Hay of Drumelzier and a niece of the 1st Marquis of Tweeddale.
Between the period 1724-1728 Robert instructed Lennoxlove to be redecorated which also saw a new building and rooms built. Robert died in 1743 and was succeeded by his son Walter, the 8th Lord Blantyre who subsequently died in 1751 at the age of twenty-four. He was succeeded by his brother William, 9th Lord Blantyre who had pursued a military career and achieved the rank of Colonel before retiring and died in 1776.
Alexander, 10th lord blantyre
The title passed to his brother Alexander who became the 10th Lord Blantyre. He resided at Erskine House until he moved his family to Lennoxlove from 1780 until his death in 1783 leaving his wife Katharine widowed at the age of 30 with seven children to look after, all under the age of nine.
Until their eldest son, Robert could take over the running of the estate legal tutors, later renamed Commissioners were installed in the interim period. In 1804, Gilbert Burns, brother of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns acted as the factor at Lennoxlove.
Katherine, Dowager Lady Blantyre resided at Lennoxlove from the early 1800s until her death in 1822. She never remarried and correspondence suggests she never got over the loss of her husband.
Robert, 11th Lord Blantyre and his brothers John, Patrick and William pursued military careers where Charles, the youngest brother became a lawyer. The family suffered further heartache when their brother John died at the Battle of Vimeiro in 1808. With no plans in place for succession Patrick would marry Catherine Henrietta in 1810 with Robert marrying her younger sister Fanny in 1813.
Robert, the 11th Lord Blantyre and his wife Fanny welcomed a son, Charles Walter at Lennoxlove in 1818
In 1824 Robert the 11th Lord Blantyre held discussions with Scottish architect, William Burn to repair the tower at Lennoxlove as it was falling into disrepair.
Charles, would later become the 12th Lord Blantyre at the age of twelve after the death of his father on the 22nd September 1830. He married Lady Evelyn Leweson-Gower. They went on to have 6 children together none of whom would succeed their father.
In 1900, the 12th and last Lord Blantyre died. With no living heir, Lennoxlove was inherited by the 12th Lord Blantyre’s grandson, Major William Baird.