Over the centuries, Lennoxlove has played host to royalty and been a family home for successive earls
and dukes from across the country - including Scotland’s current premier peer, the Duke of Hamilton.

But now, the stately home near Haddington is gradually being worn away through years of inappropriate
repair work and old age, and close inspection reveals patched-up masonry and crumbling stone.

Since the mid-1990s, there has been talk of starting a restoration project to save the home,
one of East Lothian’s most important historical buildings, but the estate was unable
to raise the millions needed.
The Duke of Hamilton, who is the representative of the Queen in Scotland and former owner of the estate,
has spent years trying to raise the cash.

Last year, the estate tried to secure a £1.5 million grant from the National Lottery
but the application was unsuccessful.

But now after receiving backing from Historic Scotland, the house’s board of trustees has announced
the attraction is set to undergo a £2.5m restoration within the next 12 months.

And although the heritage group will only provide a small amount of the funding needed, the estate says
it is confident it will be able to find the rest of the money needed by selling works of art if necessary.

"Although we have some support for this project, we will probably have to sell some of the more valuable paintings
in the estate to help fund the restoration," explains the Duke of Hamilton.