Sir James Hope (1614-1661) was the first to style himself ‘of Hopetoun’ using the old name for Leadhills in Lanarkshire where, through his marriage with the heiress Anne Foulis, he came into possession of valuable lead mines. This increased wealth enabled his son, John Hope (1650-1682) to purchase the lands of Abercorn with a view to building a fine house for himself. Unfortunately, before he could do so, he drowned in the shipwreck of the ‘Gloucester’ whilst accompanying the Duke of York (later James VII/II) on a journey to Scotland.
His widow, Lady Margaret Hamilton, continued the discussions and plans to erect a mansion on the site: in 1699 she commissioned the building of Hopetoun for her young son Charles Hope (1681-1742) on the occasion of his marriage to the sister of the Marquess of Annandale. The Marquess was a noted connoisseur of the arts and his collection was bequeathed to Hopetoun on his death. Charles was created the first Earl of Hopetoun in 1703.
Work on the House began in 1699 under the auspices of Sir William Bruce who was recognised as one of the most brilliant architects of the day. The works were completed in 1707 and produced some of the finest examples of carving, wainscoting and ceiling painting in Scotland, reflecting the fashions and tastes of Scottish nobility at that time. Many details were executed by local craftsmen, such as the grand staircase carved by Alexander Eizat who had worked with Bruce during renovations at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.
Some fourteen years later in 1721, the renowned Scottish architect William Adam was commissioned to undertake a programme of alterations and improvements that lasted until 1767. This saw the addition of an imposing facade with magnificent colonnades, north and south pavilions and the creation of grand State Apartments to be used for entertaining and socialising. The work outlived William Adam, however, and after his death in 1748 the interior decoration of the House was carried out by his sons John, James and Robert. The work also outlived the 1st Earl: his son John the 2nd Earl (1704-1781) oversaw the completion of the interiors.
