History of Maitlandfield Country House Hotel

Haddington, Edinburgh and Lothians

The Romantic Maitlandfield House Hotel East Lothian Scotland, has a very interesting history.. Situated in the County of East Lothian near Edinburgh Scotland. The original mansion house was named Bearford House and was built in 1654. Bearford’s House was one of the many properties of Francis Charteris, Earl of Wemyss and was transferred to the ownership of Lieutenant Thomas Maitland in April 1754. The House was remodelled about this time and renamed Maitlandfield.

Thomas Maitland In 1794 passed over the property to his son Charles who served with distinction in the Indian Army and had become Colonel of the East Lothian Yeomanry in 1797.

In 1825 Charles Maitland son of Thomas Maitland, inherited Maitlandfield House.

In the 1840’s local goldsmiths Thomas and Agnes Howden took ownership of Maitlandfield House. Thomas Howden was also the Provost of the burgh in 1877.

In 1901 his son, Robert Howden MBCM, a ship’s doctor with a Master’s Certificate, inherited the property. He passed away in 1907 aged 43 years. He left the Maitlandfield to his son, another Thomas

Maitlandfield House has had many changes and also many uses in the service of the community, for example during World War II Maitlandfield House was used by the Ministry of Food as offices and in 1952 it was taken over by the British Transport Commission to enable the widening of Mill Wynd.

In 1999 the Maitlandfield House Hotel was purchased by the De Freitas family, professional hoteliers as there first hotel in there portfolio of Alliance Hotels. They have made many changes to this great house including renovating the walled garden with fountain and stable yard. They have also upgraded and decorated the hotel bedrooms in the main house and the east and west wings.

Additional luxury rooms where also added to the main house including the Wemyss luxury rooms and suites giving the hotel 25 Rooms with a variety of accommodation, from comfort to total luxury.

The self contained Great Hall Conference & Banqueting Suite, comfortably accommodating up to 200 guests, was opened by an event hosted by Citizens Advice Scotland attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Ann in November 2002. The popular and unique informal Brasserie bar and grill, was redeveloped in November 2007, to help it to remain fit for a King.

Today Maitlandfield House is a three star hotel with a private house ambience..

Is there a ghost?

Well, some say there is but if so she enjoys a contented existence in the peaceful surroundings. No food is ever missing so perhaps the ghost feeds on the wonderful aromas wafting from the kitchen. We hope that you too will enjoy the gracious ambience of the Brasserie Bar & Grill and be titillated by the menu to savour, which our head chef has artistically created in a modern Scottish culinary style.

a time in History.....