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The History - Sir William Bruce
Bruce was a gentleman architect, the younger son of
a laird, Robert Bruce of Blairhall, an ancestor of the present Earl of Elgin
and Kincardine. He was a staunch Episcopalian and loyal subject of the Stuart
kings. His big break came when he acted as an emissary to King Charles II
in Holland in negotiations with General Monk, Cromwell's representative
in Scotland. When King Charles was restored to the throne, Bruce was made
"Surveyor to the King's Works" and, in 1668, he was created a Baronet of
Nova Scotia with the title to Balcaskie in Fife.
Appointed "King's Surveyor and Architect" in 1671, Sir William Bruce was
responsible for rebuilding Hollyrood House in Edinburgh as well as for major
works at Hopetoun House, Thirlestane and Balcaskie. Kinross House, however,
was to be his masterpiece.
Having purchased the Kinross-shire estate in 1675, Bruce did not start work
on the house itself until 1685. During the intervening years, Bruce and
his son John concentrated first of all on draining and levelling the site
and then laying out and planting the formal gardens. With the accession
of King James VII of Scotland in 1685, Bruce lost his remaining government
posts and was able to concentrate fully on Kinross House, the building of
which was completed in 1693. Interestingly, the interior had still not been
completed to Bruce's design by the time of his death in 1710.
Although Bruce may well have never actually lived in Kinross House, it would
appear that he did intend to build it for himself and his family. Some have
suggested that the house was intended as a residence for the Duke of York,
King Charles II's brother James, in the event of his being excluded from
the throne but there is no evidence to support this theory. |
Sir William Bruce |
