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Cairness was built in the
1790s by Charles Gordon of Cairness and Buthlaw as the heart of
a 9,000-acre estate. The Loch of Strathbeg, today an important RSPB
nature reserve, was once part of the Cairness estate.
There already was a fortified house here since the 17th century.
This evolved into a mansion of smaller size designed by Robert Burn
in the 1780s which was adapted very shortly afterwards into the
house we see today.
The second laird, Major-General Thomas Gordon (1788-1841), was a
great Philhellene and friend of Lord Byron. Throughout the Greek
War of Independence (1821-28) he offered his unwavering support
to the Greeks and in 1832 wrote his celebrated History of the
Greek Revolution.
The Gordons of Cairness lived here until 1937 when the house
was sold to the Countess of Southesk. After the war, Cairness was
used as a farmhouse and later was turned into bedsits, falling into
steady decline. It is now being restored.
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The Collection
With one of the finest private collections of furniture and
works of art in the North East of Scotland, Cairness
is now open to the public as a private home, for the
first time in its history.
Paintings by Raeburn, Cotes, Lawrence, Lely and Etty, and furniture
by Gillows, Trotter, Jacob, Hope and Molitor are part
of this wonderful collection.
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