(558) Bennet of Marlefield, baronets

Bennet of Marlefield

The Bennets were a minor gentry family established at Chesters near Ancrum (Roxburghs.) in the 16th century. The branch of the family considered here begins with the Rev. William Bennet (d. 1647), a younger son of Adam Bennet of Chesters, who was appointed minister of Ancrum in 1623. By means which are unclear, William Bennet became wealthy enough to accrue substantial landed property, chiefly around Eckford and Kirk Yetholm (Roxburghshire), which was erected into the barony of Grubet in 1639. He did not marry until 1641, and died just six years later, leaving at least two sons, the elder of whom eventually succeeded to his estates, while the younger became an advocate and was indeed Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, 1698-1712. William's widow married again, to James Scott of Bonnytoun, also an advocate, and had further children. The elder son was William Bennet (c.1643-1710), who was raised to a baronetcy in 1670 and served as High Sheriff of Roxburghshire in 1693, but who remains a somewhat shadowy figure. He and his wife had eight children, the eldest of whom was Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt., who is much better documented and indeed the central figure of this narrative. He joined the invading army of King William III in 1688 with a troop of fifty men raised at his own expense, and remained in military service until 1698. His career involved taking part in the bloody but ultimately successful Siege of Namur (1695) where it is said that his life was saved by a young gypsy soldier from the Faa family, who had been recognised by King James V of Scotland as 'Kings of the Gypsies' in 1539. As a reward, Sir William granted the Faa family a plot of land on his Kirk Yetholm estate, where many of them lived in winter, and where they built a small building known as 'the Gypsy Palace', where coronations of successive kings and queens of the gypsies were held down to the early 20th century. Disputes about the succession have since meant the title has been lost, and the gypsy palace is now a holiday cottage.

Sir William gradually turned from military to civilian affairs, becoming MP for Roxburghshire in the Scottish Parliament in 1693, and continuing to serve at Westminster after the Act of Union until 1708. He held various military and civilian roles in Scotland later, and was an active opponent of the Jacobite uprising of 1715. He was also noted for his interest in literary and artistic matters, being a friend and patron of the poets James Thomson and Allan Ramsay, and he gave his interests a practical turn by commissioning a new house on his estate at Marlefield. It is likely that this did not happen until after his father's death in 1710, but it could be a few years earlier. The building has a sophisticated plan and elegant simplicity, and shows the influence of Sir Robert Bruce on the Scottish architectural scene, although there is no particular reason to connect Bruce (or Wren, or William Adam) with the design, as others have done in the past. Indeed it seems possible that Sir William, with an intimate knowledge of Edinburgh and experience of London and the Low Countries, was responsible for the design himself.

The 2nd baronet married three times, but had children only by his last wife. He was succeeded at Marlefield by his two eldest sons in turn: Sir William Bennet (1705-33), 3rd bt., and Sir David Bennet (1706-41), 4th bt. The former died unmarried, and the latter left no surviving issue, so in 1741 the estate came into the hands of the 2nd baronet's younger brother, Sir John Bennet (1670-1751), 5th bt. He again is a shadowy figure, but what is known is that he was unmarried, and in 1743 he sold the Marlefield estate to his niece's husband, William Nisbet (d. 1783) of Dirleton (East Lothian). The Bennet baronetcy became extinct on his death in 1751.

Marlefield House, Eckford, Roxburghshire

A very substantial five-bay, three-storey double-pile house of the early 18th century, with angle towers projecting at the four corners, and curved links to L-shaped pavilion wings. It was built for Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt., but the date is unclear. Although his father transferred parts of the family property to him in 1692 and 1706, he did not succeed to the whole until 1710, and it is perhaps most likely that building began after that. The plain classical form of the house is testament to Sir William's reputation for being up-to-date on artistic matters, but nothing is known of the architect or craftsmen he employed and he may indeed, have played a role in its design himself. In the 1720s, he recommended the young William Adam (1689-1748) to the Duke of Roxburghe for work at Floors Castle, but his contact with Adam probably came from his involvement with the cultural scene in Edinburgh rather than from any direct experience of employing him at Marlefield. 

Marlefield House, Eckford: photograph of the entrance front before the alterations of 1891-92 by John Muir Wood.
Image: National Galleries of Scotland. Some rights reserved.

Marlefield House, Eckford: photograph of the rear and side elevations before the alterations of 1891-92 by John Muir Wood. Image: National Galleries of Scotland. Some rights reserved.

19th century survey plans show that the house then had four main rooms on each floor, with closets in the angle-towers, but very little internal decoration survives from the original building period, except for an angle fireplace and pine panelling in one of the closets, which also has a domed ceiling with a circular painting of Mars in his chariot, and possibly some elements of the staircase, which stands in the middle of the west front and rises from the ground-floor to the attics.

The house was sold in 1743 by the last Bennet baronet to his niece and her husband, William Nisbet of Dirleton. In 1754-57 they employed George Paterson to repair and modernise the house, and it seems likely that he was responsible for adding the quadrant links and pavilion wings. He probably also designed the five-bay stable block, which has Gibbsian details to the central doorway and the end bays. Other changes of the same date probably include lowering the sills of the first-floor windows, and adding the Venetian central doorway on the west front. The present form of the staircase, which has alternately straight and twisted mahogany balusters, must also date from the 1750s.

Marlefield House: the entrance front in 1915, after the late Victorian alterations, from an old postcard.

In the late 18th century, the house was stripped of its remaining contents and let to tenants, including Ralph Oliphant, who is known to have carried out repairs. After it was acquired by the Hay family of Yester, Marquesses of Tweeddale, the house was abandoned and fell into disrepair, until in 1890 it was bought by Athole Stanhope Hay, who brought in Kinnear & Peddie to carry out a thorough restoration in 1890-91. The house was in such a bad state by then - something suggested by the photographs above - that it had to be more or less gutted internally; certainly most of the principal interiors have decoration of this time. Hay's wife was the sister of Sir Bache Cunard, 3rd bt., and it is said that the Jacobethan panelling in the entrance hall was taken out of a Cunard liner. The doorcase on the east front was altered and given a pediment and sidelights, and a two-storey rectangular bay window was added on the south side. The house was harled until the mid 20th century, and the present exposed rubble walling is unfortunate. 

Marlefield House today. Image: Stravaiging around Scotland.

In the late 20th century, the house became an hotel for a time, but it was later reconverted to domestic use. The stable block was converted into a separate house by Bain Swan architects in 1990. An excellent set of photographs of the house, including some interior views, can be found here.

Descent: sold to Rev. William Bennet (d. 1647); to son, Sir William Bennet (c.1643-1710), 1st bt.; to son, Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt.; to son, Sir William Bennet (1705-33), 3rd bt.; to brother, Sir David Bennet (1706-41), 4th bt.; to uncle, Sir John Bennet (1670-1751), 5th bt., who sold 1743 to William Nisbet (d. 1783) of Dirleton...sold to Field Marshal George Hay (1787-1876), 8th Marquess of Tweeddale; to son, Arthur Hay (1824-78), 9th Marquess of Tweeddale; to brother, William Montague Hay (1826-1911), 10th Marquess of Tweeddale; sold 1890 to Athole Stanhope Hay (1861-1933); sold c.1935 to Capt. Alan Richard Lassam Goodson (1896-1941); to widow, Mrs Clarice Muriel Weston (k/a Coey) Goodson (1901-82); to son, Sir Mark Weston Lassam Goodson (1925-2015), 3rd bt.; to son, Sir Alan Reginald Goodson (b. 1960), 4th bt. 

Bennet family of Marlefield, baronets

Bennet, Rev. William (d. 1647). Younger son of Adam Bennet (d. 1616) of Chesters, portioner of Nether Ancrum, and his wife Janet Crichton. Appointed minister of Ancrum, 1623. In 1644 he loaned £2,400 to the Scots government towards the supply of the Scots armies in England and Ireland. He married, January 1641 (contract 29 January) at Ancrum, Margaret, eldest daughter of William Eliot (d. 1654) of Stobs, and had issue, possibly among others:

(1) Sir William Bennet (c.1643-1710), 1st bt. (q.v.);

(2) Robert Bennet (1644-1722), born 1644; admitted to Faculty of Advocates, 1672 and 1676 (Dean of the Faculty, 1698-1712); married 1st, 8 April 1685 at Edinburgh, Margaret Weir (d. 1687), and 2nd, 14 October 1692 at Lauder (Berwicks), Janet Colville, and had issue; died 29 September and was buried at Edinburgh, 2 October 1722.

He acquired considerable wealth which he invested in lands including Grubet and Mowmains (later Marlefield), erected into the barony of Grubet in 1639.

He died before 14 June 1647. His widow married 2nd, 1651 (contract 24 October) as his second wife, James Scott (d. by 1668) of Bonnytoun, advocate, second son of Laurence Scott of Harperig, advocate, and had further issue three sons and two daughters; her date of death is unknown.

Bennet, Sir William (c.1643-1710), 1st bt. Elder son of Rev. William Bennet (d. 1647) and his wife Margaret, eldest daughter of William Eliot of Stobs, born about 1643. After his father's death his wardship was purchased by Robert Pringle, portioner of Clifton, 14 June 1647. High Sheriff of Roxburghshire, 1693. A Presbyterian in religion, he suffered 'many hardships for conscience sake'. He was created a baronet, 18 November 1670. He married, 1665 (contract 6 April) Christian, second daughter of Sir Alexander Morrison, kt., of Prestongrange (East Lothian), and had issue:

(1) Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt. (q.v.);

(2) Elizabeth Bennet (b. c.1668), born about 1668; married, 2 December 1684 at Edinburgh, as his second wife, Sir John Scott (c.1630-1712), 1st bt., of Ancrum; died in or before 1708;

(3) Jean Bennet (b. 1669), baptised at Prestonpans, 17 February 1669; married, 29 March 1688 at Edinburgh, William Nisbet (c.1666-1724) of Dirleton (who m2, 23 April 1711, Jean, daughter of Robert Bennet (1644-1722), Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, and had further issue one son and three daughters), and had issue about ten children; died in or before 1710;

(4) Sir John Bennet (1670-1751), 5th bt. (q.v.);

(5) Robert Bennet (b. 1671), baptised at Prestonpans, 23 December 1671;

(6) Henry Bennet (fl. 1687), apprenticed to John Duncan of Edinburgh, merchant, 1687;

(7) Margaret Bennet; married, 1711 (contract 29 January), James Carnegie* (d. 1765) of Finavon (who m2, Violet, daughter of Sir James Naismith of Posso, and had further issue one son and two daughters), and had issue two daughters;

(8) Christian Bennet (b. c.1678); married, 1697 (banns 13 February), Charles Stuart (1672-1732) of Dunearn (who m2, 24 August 1700, Jean, daughter of Sir Alexander Hamilton of Dalziel, and had further issue two sons and four daughters), and had issue one son (Alexander Stuart (c.1698-1786), well known for his collections of books and pictures); died in or before 1700.

He inherited his father's barony of Grubet and came of age about 1664.

He died in 1710. His wife's date of death is unknown.

* Carnegie was found not guilty of murdering the 6th Earl of Strathmore in a famous trial of 1728, which established important precedents in Scots law.

Bennet, Sir William (1666-1729), 2nd bt. Eldest son of Sir William Bennet (c.1643-1710), 1st bt., and his wife Christian, second daughter of Sir Alexander Morrison of Prestongrange, baptised at Prestonpans (East Lothian), 20 June 1666. Probably educated at Edinburgh University (MA 1685). An officer in the army  of King William III (Capt, 1689; Maj. 1697; retired 1698) who accompanied William III from Holland in 1688 with fifty men at his own charge, and fought at the Battle of Namur, 1695. MP for Roxburghshire in the Scottish Parliament, 1693-1707, and in the parliament of Great Britain, 1707-08. Muster-master general for Scotland, 1704-08. He succeeded his father as 2nd baronet, 1710. A Commissioner of Excise in Scotland, 1714-15. He was an ensign in the Royal Company of Archers, 1715, and led the Roxburghshire militia in defence of Kelso during the Jacobite uprising of 1715. A patron of the arts and literature, and a friend of the poets, James Thomson and Allan Ramsay. He married 1st, Jean, daughter of Sir John Kerr of Lochtour; 2nd, 1692 (contract 18 March), Margaret (d. 1694), only daughter and heir of John Scowgall alias Sionyall of Whitekirk (East Lothian), commissary of Aberdeen; and 3rd, 1695 (contract 31 August), Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir David Hay MD of Auchquairney, and had issue:

(3.1) Janet Bennet (b. 1699), baptised at Eckford, 6 July 1699.

(3.2) Helen (k/a Nellie) Bennet (1700-52), baptised at Eckford, 11 July 1700; died unmarried, about August 1752;

(3.3) Jean Bennet (b. 1702), baptised at Eckford, 31 March 1702; 

(3.4) Agnes Bennet (b. 1703), baptised at Eckford, 18 July 1703;

(3.5) Sir William Bennet (1705-33), 3rd bt. (q.v.);

(3.6) Sir David Bennet (1706-41), 4th bt. (q.v.);

(3.7) Elizabeth Bennet; married, 5 August 1726 at Eckford, Barnaby Barrow (d. 1732), comptroller of excise at Edinburgh;

(3.8) Robert Bennet (b. 1709), born 16 October 1709; an officer in the Earl of Rothes' regiment (Ensign by 1737); died before 1741.

He had charters for the lands of Grubet in 1692 (rescinded) and 1706, and built the present Marlefield House probably after 1710, possibly to his own designs. 

He died at Marlefield, 23/24 December 1729. His first wife died before 1692. His second wife died before 23 April 1694. His widow was living in 1742; her date of death is unknown.

Bennet, Sir William (1705-33), 3rd bt. Eldest son of Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt., and his third wife, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir David Hay of Auchquairney, born 20 July 1705. He succeded his father as 3rd baronet, 24 December 1729. He was unmarried and without issue.

He inherited his father's estate at Marlefield and was served heir to him, 20 April 1730.

He died 3 January 1733.

Bennet, Sir David (1706-41), 4th bt. Second son of Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt., and his third wife, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir David Hay of Auchquairney, born 21 October 1706. He succeeded his elder brother as 4th baronet, 3 January 1733. He married [name unknown] and had issue:

(1) William Bennet (b. 1734), baptised at Eckford, 9 July 1734; died in the lifetime of his father.

He inherited the family estate at Marlefield from his elder brother and was served heir to him, 19 April 1733.

He died about 14 March 1741. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Bennet, Sir John (1670-1751), 5th bt. Second son of Sir William Bennet (c.1643-1710), 1st bt., and his wife Christian, second daughter of Sir Alexander Morrison of Prestongrange, born 10 September and baptised at Edinburgh, 30 September 1670. He seems to have been apprenticed to William Chatto of Wooler (Northbld), merchant, 1698, but his age at the time makes this doubtful. He succeeded his nephew as 5th baronet, 1741. 

He inherited the family estate at Marlefield from his nephew in 1741, but sold them to another nephew, William Nisbet of Dirleton, in 1743.

He died about 4 November 1751, when the baronetcy became extinct. not in 1765 as most accounts of the family state.

Principal sources

G.E. Cokayne, Complete Baronetage, vol. 4, 1904, pp. 279-80; K. Cruft, J. Dunbar & R. Fawcett, The buildings of Scotland: Borders, 2006, pp. 526-27; B. Byrom, The country houses, castles and manors of Roxburgshire, 2015, p. 64; G. MacGregor, The Red Book of Scotland, 2nd edn., 2018, vol. 1, pp. 489-91; 

https://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/marlefield-house/; 

https://canmore.org.uk/site/58235/marlefield-house;

Location of archives

Bennet baronets, of Marlfield: Some family papers are included among the records of the Brooke family of Biel (East Lothian), 1435-1915 [National Records of Scotland, GD6]

Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt.: correspondence and papers, c.1690-1729 [National Records of Scotland, GD205]

Coat of arms

Either, Gules, on a chevron between three stars, argent, a cross patée gules; 

Or, Or, a cross patée between three mullets, gules, a chief of the last, on a canton the badge of a Nova Scotia baronet.

Can you help?

• Can anyone explain the ownership history of the house in the late 18th and early 19th century?
• Can anyone provide portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
• If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 16 October 2023.