Swanston Farm has a fascinating history.

Swanston was first recorded in AD1214 when it formed part of the Barony of Redhall.  The name, however derives from the Norse/Anglican for ‘Sveinn’s Farm’ indicating a possible earlier 9th-11th Century foundation for the farming estate.  The historic medieval estate of Swanston stretched from Oxgangs Road to the Pentland Hills and from Bowbridge to the Long Plantation at Dreghorn.

Swanston is also mentioned in historical documents during the 14th Century in the charters granted during the reign of David II – (Robert the Bruce’s only surviving son).

King David II. Click to enlarge

It formed part of the Temple lands of the Knights of St. John and Swanston Farm was also once a monk’s grange. In a Charter by James VI, in which all the Templar’s possessions in Scotland were listed, a reference to ‘terras templaris de Swaistoun possess’ is included.

Kings James VI of Scotland. Click to enlarge

In the 15th Century, Swanston existed as Easter Swanston and Wester Swanston and in 1670 the Trotters of Mortonhall took ownership.

Trotter family crest. Click to enlarge

In 1762 Swanston Cottage was built by what was the Town Council of the time, who had augmented Edinburgh’s first water supply from Comiston, drawing from the Springs at Swanston.  Swanston Cottage was leased by Robert Louis Stevenson’s parents, Thomas and Margaret (née Balfour) during the Summer months, for the period of their son’s late teens to twenties (1867 until 1880).

Swanston Cottage. Click to enlarge

Robert Louis Stevenson. Click to enlarge

An extract about Swanston from ‘Picturesque Notes on Edinburgh’ by Robert Louis Stevenson. Click to enlarge

It is said that the Trotter family planted the T-Wood in 1766 as a memorial to a descendant of the house who fell in battle.  It is a Greek cross in plan but a ‘T’-shape as seen at a distance from the North.  However, another story is that in 1758 an Act of Parliament empowered the Edinburgh Corporation to provide piped water from private lands to the city of Edinburgh which had expanded substantially after the building of the New Town. Swanston’s landowner Henry Trotter resisted. He is thought to have planted the large “T” wood on the hillside in protest after his appeal to the House of Lords was overturned in 1760. In 1761 the Swanston Waterworks was completed as part of the first piped water supply to the city. Swanston Cottage and Water House were built as part of the works.

The ‘T’ Woods as seen from the Pentland Hills, looking out over the City of Edinburgh. Click to enlarge

There was also an 18th Century schoolhouse tucked away in the trees adjacent to Swanston Village. This still stands and is now a private home.  This schooled children from as far as Bowbridge, Fordel, Comiston House, Lothianburn and Dreghorn.

Swanston School House. Click to enlarge

School children walking to Swanston School House. Click to enlarge

The McClung family were tenant farmers on the land for 2 generations from the 1930’s and when the landowner died in the 1970’s, they were able to purchase the land in its original state as seed potato growing in the merchants business, along with the 2 golf courses (Lothianburn Golf Club established in 1893 and Swanston Golf Club established in 1928) that came with the land.  The McClung family are still owners and custodians of Swanston Farm today.

Swanston Farm Tattie Howkers, 1952. This photo was taken on fields that were once part of Swanston Farm – now occupied by Tesco Supermarket. Howkers were men and women from the West of Ireland employed by Scottish Tattie merchants during harvest season. Click to enlarge

An area within Swanston was first designated a conservation area on 20th February 1975 and remains to this day a safeguarded environment, a conservation area and an area of special historic and architectural character.

In 1998 the McClung family, like many other potato farmers, were facing challenges of competing with mass-produced potatoes and in order to sustain the business and the employment of those on the farm, decided to stop working the land for potatoes and set about diversifying.

Working the tattie fields at Swanston Farm during the 1980’s. Click to enlarge.

In 1999 they started work on converting the old farm steading into offices, doing it all themselves with a small team of craftsmen (who still work for the farm today).

Swanston Steading, ‘Before’. Click to enlarge

Swanston Steading, ‘After’. Click to enlarge

The old mill wheel at Swanston Steading. Click to enlarge

Removing the old mill stone at Swanston Steading. Click to enlarge

The old mill works at Swanston Steading. Click to enlarge.

In 2001 more of the old farm steading buildings were renovated and turned into holiday cottages by the McClung family, transforming the old stone buildings into 6 traditional self-catering cottages, each with a small garden and retaining the key features of the building, including the carriage-house arches which are now beautiful arched windows.

Swanston Farm Carriage-houses and Farm Steading, ‘Before’. Click to enlarge

Swanston Holiday Cottages, ‘After’. Click to enlarge

In 2007 after a decision to move away from the exclusive-use golf club set-up and open up catering at Swanston to the general public, the old Swanston Golf Clubhouse was demolished and a purpose-built home for Swanston Brasserie was erected.  Once again the build was carried-out by the McClung family and their small team.  The building, owned and managed by Swanston Farm Ltd, now houses Swanston Brasserie on the first floor with balconies looking North and West, a function room on the ground floor and the Golf Shop for Swanston Golf Ltd is on the ground floor.  This is now a thriving eatery, open 7 days a week  and open to all, welcoming everyone from families to corporate events to weddings.

Swanston Golf Pavilion & Club House during the 1930’s. Click to enlarge

The old Swanston Golf Clubhouse in 2006. Click to enlarge

The old Swanston Golf Clubhouse in 2006 and the nearly complete Swanston Brasserie in 2007. Click to enlarge.

The old Swanston Golf Clubhouse in 2006 and the nearly complete Swanston Brasserie in 2007. Click to enlarge.

Swanston Brasserie. Public eatery, open to all. Click to enlarge.

This photograph was taken in the 1880's and shows famous author and poet, Robert Louis Stevenson. it is a portrait photo showing his head and shoulders. He is looking directly at the camera. The photo was taken by James Notman. Robert Louis Stevenson has a long moustache and has a dark jacket, white shirt and a tie on.
Image shows an old photo taken in 1975 of Swanston Farm, before the City Bypass was built (which was in 1981). The old wooden clubhouse for the golf club and the farm buildings are visible as well as the T-Wood with Caerketton Hill in the background.
Image shows an old photograph taken by James Patrick during the 1800's of the Swanston Farm plough horses pulling ploughs in the fields with Caerketton Hill and the T-Wood in the background.
Image shows an old photograph taken during the 1950's of Swanston Farm before the City Bypass was built in the 1970's. The Caerketton Hill, T-Wood and Swanston Farm is seen in the background.
Image shows an old photo taken during the 1950's from the old City Hospital in Greenbank, Edinburgh and shows the tennis courts in the foreground, with the Pentland Hills and Swanston Farm in the background.
Image shows a very old photograph taken by photographer James Patrick called 'Golden Autumn' showing two cart horses pulling a scythe, cutting the wheat field. Caerketton Hill is seen the background behind the farm buildings.
Image shows a very old photograph taken by photographer James Patrick during the 1800's of the Swanston Farm plough horses heading back up the track towards the farm at the end of a working day. There is a farm working riding one of the horses which are still wearing their harnesses. Caerketton Hill is seen in the background and the farm steading seen in the middle of the photo.
Image shows an old photograph taken by photographer James Patrick during the 1800's of two horses and carts being led up to Swanston Farmhouse surrounded by some trees and part of Caerketton Hill in the background.
Image shows an old photograph taken during the 1970's of Swanston Farm with the Pentland Hills in the background. There is a smudge of smoke rising from one of the farm cottages in the centre.
Image shows a very old photograph taken by photographer James Patrick during the 1800's of the cottages of Swanston Village in Spring time with sheep and lambs with the shepherd. Arthur's Seat is also included in the distance.
Image shows a very old postcard of a black and white photograph taken by James Patrick in the 1800's titled 'The Pentland Hills, Swanston'. In the foreground are sheep grazing in a large open field with a very large oak tree in the distance. Beyond this tree are several more large trees and in the background, Caerketton and Allermuir hills of the Pentland Hills. The edge of the T-Wood is also visible.
Image shows a very old postcard of a black and white photograph taken by James Patrick in the 1800's of Swanston Cottage, the big white house which was the early home of Robert Louis Stevenson and his family during holidays. There is snow lying on the ground and the house is partly hidden by a large tree.
Image shows a very old photo from the 1800's of the fields and haystacks at Swanston Farm with the Pentland Hills in the background
Image shows a very old postcard of a photograph by James Patrick from the 1800's, showing Swanston Village, surrounded by trees, with a woman stacking wheat in individual teepee piles in the foreground. It is titled 'Swanston Village'.
Image shows a very old postcard of a photograph by James Patrick from the 1800's, showing Swanston Village, surrounded by trees, in the mid-ground, Arthurs Seat in the distance, and several sheep in the foreground. It is titled 'The Evening Meal, Swanston'.
Image shows a very old postcard of a black and white photograph taken in the 1800's by James Patrick of the Farm House at Swanston. The white farmhouse is partially hidden in the trees in the background, with two carthorses hitched-up to carts in the foreground, being led by a farm hand up the track towards the house. Some parts from the horse's carts are leaning up against the stone wall on the left in the foreground.
Image shows a very old postcard of a black and white photograph taken in the 1800's by James Patrick of the Farm House at Swanston. The white farmhouse is partially hidden in the trees in the background, with two Clydesdale horses in the foreground, one being ridden and the rider leading the second one, walking up the track towards the house. The horse's carts are leaning up against the stone wall on the left in the foreground, and there is a gentleman in a suit standing with his hands in his pockets beyond the horses, as though he is waiting for them.
Image shows a very old postcard of a photograph taken in the 1800's by a photographer called James Patrick. The photo shows some of the old thatched cottages of Swanston Village, with sheep in the foreground and is titled 'The Roaring Shepherds Cottage' because it shows the cottage where the Swanston Shepherd, John 'Roaring' Todd, used to live.
Photograph showing the old mill metal works that were once inside the Swanston Farm steading. Photo taken during the deconstruction of the interior of the farm steading buildings before commencing the build of the holiday cottages within these old stone walls.
Photograph showing the removal of the old mill stone that was once inside the Swanston Farm steading. Photo taken during the deconstruction of the interior of the farm steading buildings before commencing the build of the holiday cottages within these old stone walls.
Photograph showing the old mill metal works that were once inside the Swanston Farm steading. Photo taken during the deconstruction of the interior of the farm steading buildings before commencing the build of the holiday cottages within these old stone walls.
Photograph taken in the 1980's of the 'tattie' (potato) fields at Swanston Farm, with lines of crops and several farm workers picking the tatties in a line with round baskers. There are 2 tractors driving up and down the line of workers collecting up the tatties in to a trailer. It is a hot sunny day!