At Paxton House, the collections on display reflect the lives, tastes and changing fortunes of the Home family over several centuries. Together, they offer a remarkable insight into Georgian life on the Scottish–English border and the family’s wider global connections.
Highlights include the third largest collection of Chippendale furniture in the world, world class costume from the 1750s and paintings collected on Grand tours.
As you walk through the house, you will see the various collections acquired over several centuries from the 1550s to the 1980s. The house gives a remarkable view into the life and taste of a Georgian family living on the Border.
Paxton House is particularly celebrated for its two Nationally Recognised collections of furniture, its outstanding costume collection, its Caribbean Connections exhibition and paintings on loan from National Galleries Scotland.
Thomas Chippendale
Ninian Home commissioned Chippendale, Haig and Co. to decorate and furnish his home ‘in a neat but not expensive manner’ between 1774- 1791.
The firm furnished the house with a wide variety of exquisitely made chairs, cabinets, desks, beds, clothes presses, tables as well as soft furnishings. This included a complete interior design scheme for the Dining and Drawing rooms. supplying hand-painted wallpaper and enormous pier glass mirrors from Paris.
William Trotter
William Trotter is Scotland’s most outstanding cabinetmaker of all time. A crucial figure in the Edinburgh New Town, he had showrooms on Princes Street. Paxton House was Trotter’s largest country house commission with 40 fully documented pieces made for the new wing added by George Home in 1812-15. This is the world’s largest publicly accessible collection of Trotter furniture.
Grand Tour
Patrick Home, who commissioned Paxton House, was sent abroad in 1748, shortly before the second Jacobite uprising. At just 20 years old, his mother wanted to broaden his education. After university in Leipzig, he headed for Berlin and later for Italy and France. This fashionable adventure for young men was known as the Grand Tour, a bit like a modern gap year. Patrick traveled in Europe again in the 1770s.
While travelling Patrick acquired a large number of paintings, marbles, and souvenirs including an outstanding 16th century ebony and bone cabinet made in Naples for the Albertoni family. Several old master paintings and landscapes in the house were also collected in Europe including Rosalba Carriera’s portrait of Frederick the Great. These were shipped back to Britain and mostly remained in storage until being unpacked after his death.
Newly updated, Scotland’s largest private gallery ever built, and indeed the most ambitious in any Scottish country house, is now a magnificent Ballroom for entertaining, music, and events.
Showcasing some of the finest works of art collected during 18th century Grand Tours in Italy and more recently in Scotland by the Home family, the Ballroom is completed with exceptional William Trotter furniture designed for this space with Italian marble tops.
Landscapes represented include the World Heritage site of ancient Palmyra (Syria), sublime views of Naples and Vesuvius by Francesco Fidanza, and the world’s oldest chain suspension bridge, the Union Chain Bridge by Scottish artist, Alexander Nasmyth.
Newly installed mirrors reflect glimpses of the paintings and events taking place.
Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Paxton House. On this occasion, we took the guided tour and went on the boat trip to the Union Chain Bridge. The tour is excellent – the guide knows her stuff but wasn’t long-winded about it, and told us some entertaining stories. We went at a sensible pace, so we were able to examine items that interested us. We’d been on the boat trip before, but it’s always different and interesting: this time, we saw cormorants, egrets, little grebe and a merganser. Food and drink in the cafe is always good; and they have a dog-friendly room if you don’t want to sit out in the courtyard. We’ve been before to look at the gardens and attend events, but still have to see the exhibitions in the galleries – we’ll be going back soon! NB -the house visit includes a spiral staircase and other steps. There’s a lift at one point, but it would be advisable to ask about access before booking the tour.
Judith O
“The Paxton commission is especially interesting because it was intended for a new kind of interior – a semi public art gallery, designed to create one of the great Scottish Enlightenment interiors. The adjacent library has by contrast, furniture in Trotter’s more domestic New Town manner.”
Ian Gow, National Trust for Scotland
One of the most uplifting stately home visits I have had. In part, this is because I am a Paxton, so my ancestors came from the village of Paxton. Paxton House was in the Home family, so, no relation. The exterior is restrained elegance. The excellent, knowledgeable tour guide took a small group of 20, beginning with the kitchen, processing through the less elegant rooms to the finale of majestic rooms. These last rooms are quite magnificent, with Robert Adam ornament & decoration. I did not have to pay admission as I am a member of Historic Houses. Cafe & shop are VG. VISIT PAXTON HOUSE.
Blake S
Patrick Home’s Wardrobe
Paxton House is home to a world class collection of nearly 400 items of historic costume. The core of the collection is 18th century men’s costume, much of it found locked in a trunk 240 years after Patrick Home returned from abroad. These clothes were worn when he was a favourite of the court of Frederick the Great of Prussia between 1749-1751.
In these stunning outfits he courted his great love, Sophie de Brandt and took part in daily life at the King’s palaces. Of international importance is the exquisitely detailed fancy dress costume, embroidered with gold and silver thread, that Patrick wore for the 1750 Berlin Court Carousel, including the regalia for his horse. This is the only surviving costume from the cast of 4000 in a huge four-day spectacle, staged to welcome Frederick the Great’s sister. Other highlights of the collection include 19th century military uniforms, early 20th century ladies’ evening dress and an Elizabethan nightcap. For conservation reasons, not all costume items are on display at one time.
Patrick Home, acquired over 4000 books which are housed in the bookcases designed by William Trotter. Our Library forms an important historical collection supplemented by Patrick’s nephew, George Home and his descendants.
