Fasque

Fasque

The golden-stone mansion of Fasque creates a romantic vista, with castellated turrets and an imposing entrance porch. The house was built in 1809 by Alexander Ramsey of Balmain to replace an earlier house on the same site.

History

The original house, sometimes called Faskie, stood roughly 50 yards north of the current building. Architect William Adam drew up plans for a new house, but the design was never implemented. 

Building began in 1809 and took three years to complete, at a cost of 30,000 pounds. The Ramsey's eventually sold Fasque due to rising costs of upkeep.

In 1829 Fasque was bought by Sir John Gladstone, Baronet, father of Sir William Gladstone, who served four times as Prime Minister under Queen Victoria. William Gladstone spent much of his childhood at Fasque, and the Gladstone family owned the house until the 1930s.

The house fell into disuse. Furniture was covered with sheets, and the house kept locked for decades, though the estate itself continued to function. In 1978 Peter Gladstone, a naturalist by profession, restored the old family home.

The house is very much a Victorian "upstairs, downstairs" home with a kitchen, laundry, bakery and buttery below stairs. The most interesting feature is a double cantilevered staircase, and there is a suite of state rooms including a magnificent drawing room, library, and bedrooms with Georgian and Regency furniture. There is also an exhibition of Gladstone memorabilia.

The house is presently a hotel owned by a private company. There are a few open days during the year for the public to visit, but you will need to book your tickets in advance.