The Estate.
History
1740
Galloway House is built
Lord Alexander Garlies, son of the fifth Earl of Galloway, embarked on an ambitious project to create a stately home worthy of his lineage. Designed by the renowned architects John Douglas and John Baxter, Galloway House and estate rose majestically amidst the verdant Scottish countryside. Over the years, it became the heart of the Galloway family, evolving under the care of successive Earls. They expanded its grandeur with lodges, leisure drives, and gardens, all enclosed by extensive estate walls and sunken fences, built by Napoleonic prisoners of war.
1882 - 1913
James Day
The estate’s gardens reached new heights under the guidance of James Day, the head gardener employed by the tenth Earl of Galloway. Day, a nationally recognised horticulturist, modernised the glasshouses by installing hot water heating systems and introduced new ones to grow pears, carnations, and camellias. His work brought acclaim to the estate, which became highly regarded for its fruit-growing expertise. In particular, the Galloway Pippin apple earned a reputation for its exceptional quality.
1908
Changing Hands
The estate eventually faced financial collapse and was sold to Sir Malcolm McEacharn, a Scots-descended Australian entrepreneur. Famous for pioneering the shipping of frozen beef from Australia to Britain, Sir Malcolm also served as Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
His son, Captain Neil McEacharn, inherited his father’s passion for the land. Neil infused the estate with a global perspective, planting exotic flora such as the handkerchief tree and other Southern Hemisphere species. His botanical expertise eventually culminated in the creation of Italy’s renowned Villa Taranto gardens, inspired by the layout of Galloway House.
1930
Changing Hands and WWII
The estate passed into the hands of Margaret, the second Lady Forteviot, widow of John Dewar of the famous Dewar’s White Label whisky dynasty. Margaret brought her step-grandchildren, Edward and Joan Strutt, to live with her, ensuring the estate remained a family haven.
During World War II, Galloway House served a greater cause, becoming a hospital for recuperating servicemen. Meanwhile, Rigg Bay, part of the estate, played a pivotal role as a test site for the revolutionary Mulberry harbours used in the D-Day landings of 1944.
In the post-war years, Edward Strutt, Margaret’s step-grandson, returned to Galloway House. Passionate about horticulture, he cultivated the hybrid rhododendrons that continue to enchant visitors today. However, the estate faced another transformation in 1949 when it was partially handed over to the Glasgow Corporation. The house became a countryside retreat for state school children, offering them a reprieve from the challenges of city life.
1953
Galloway House Gardens Trust
Edward Strutt had moved to a converted head gardener's cottage within the grounds, renaming it Garlieston House. Although the farm was sold, Edward focused his energy on the woodland and walled gardens, nurturing the land.
In 1979, Galloway House’s role as a school came to an end due to government budget cuts, and it was sold into private ownership.
The Strutt legacy endured, however. In 1987, Edward and his wife, Jan, established the Galloway House Gardens Trust to preserve the estate’s verdant beauty. Their love for the land was eternal—when they passed away between 1988 and 1991, they were laid to rest side by side in the gardens they had lovingly tended.
1956 - Today
The McCreath family
Tom McCreath buys the home farm of Galloway house, of which the family remain the owners today and are responsible for the holiday lets you are looking at right now! The family reside in the old wash houses and stables of the original Galloway House. It is now a working organic farm with a herd of milking cows and younger cattle.