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William Adam, Dates: b1698 d1748 Scotland's most famous architect, was also involved with the design of gardens. His work included Arniston House, Craigston Castle, Hamilton Palace and Hopetoun House. No drawings have been found which show exactly what contribution he made to the garden designs.
The mansion house you see today was begun in 1726 and completed in the 1750's on the site of a previous tower house. The architect was William Adam but the building was completed by his son John, brother of the more famous Robert. The Dundas's of Arniston were, through the generations, a successful family and in the 1700s were one of the most powerful families in Scotland, the legal profession being the principal field of achievement. Solicitor General, Lord Advocate for Scotland and Lord President of the Court of Session being some of the family's appointments.
'A plan of Arniston and Shank Enclosures' was made in 1758 shortly after the neighbouring estate of Shank was purchased. Between then and 1787, woods and parkland were laid out over this more extensive area. The formal parkland parterre to the south of the house was dismantled between 1764-87. It is thought that the Cascade which formed the south vista of this feature was dismantled c.1764.
Robert, the 4th Lord Arniston, died in 1787 and his son, Robert, inherited. It is from his manuscript accounts of Arniston that much of the detailed history is known. He was concerned with agricultural improvements and was founder Vice President of the Highland Agricultural Society of Edinburgh from 1784. He too rose to high political office, acquiring the title of Lord Chief Baron to the Court of Exchequer in Scotland. Thomas White was commissioned to prepare an improvement plan in 1791. A sketch map of 1800 indicates that little of White's proposals had been carried out but a 'Plan of the Policies and Mains of Arniston' dated 1813 suggested considerable informal planting, much of which was carried out by 1828 as shown on a survey map of that year.