(633) Binning of Wallyford and Pilmuir

Binning of Pilmuir

Binning of Wallyford

The origins of the Binnings (sometimes Binny or Binney or Bining) are obscure, but in the 17th century the family claimed descent from a peasant called Bunnock who is said to have aided the capture of Linlithgow Castle by the Scots in 1308, during Robert the Bruce's war of independence. The story goes that Bunnock had been employed by the English garrison to gather hay and bring it to the castle, but when he approached with his laden wagon the hay concealed armed men. When he came under the gatehouse, he cut the ropes allowing the portcullis to be raised and lowered, and the armed men leapt out and overpowered the garrison, with the help of others waiting in ambush nearby. The story was first recorded in the poem 'Bruce' by John Barbour in about 1370, but there is very little evidence to connect the 17th century merchant Binnings with the Bunnock of the poem. 

The authentic records of the family seem to begin with Thomas Binning (d. 1606), who was a retainer of Lord Torpichen, and was rewarded for his service with a grant of the house and lands of Carlowriehaugh near Kirkliston (West Lothian). His son, James Binning (d. 1663), became a merchant in Edinburgh, and married twice; his eldest son, another James Binning (d. 1681), became an advocate and seems to have sold Carlowriehaugh, but his issue had died out before 1700. The only child of James's second marriage was Sir William Binning (1637-1711), kt., with whom the genealogy below begins. Like his father, he followed a mercantile career, and was also active in civic politics in Edinburgh. After serving a term as Lord Provost, however, he largely abandoned city affairs and became a government contractor and a farmer of tolls and customs. He bought the Wallyford estate with its recently-built new house in 1675, but it is not clear how much time he spent there, since his main residence always seems to have been in Edinburgh. Since Wallyford was only about seven miles from the city, however, he could have moved frequently between the two.

Like his father, Sir William was twice married, but all his ten children were borne by his first wife. His eldest son, Laurence Binning (1665-1708), died in the lifetime of his father, so it was his next surviving son, William Binning (1669-1734), who inherited Wallyford. He was educated at Edinburgh University and married into the rising Dundas family, but his only surviving child was William Binning (1710-91), who became an advocate and a director of the Bank of Scotland, but who never married. He inherited Wallyford from his father in 1734 but sold it in 1757 and lived subsequently in Edinburgh, and this branch of the family died out on his death.

Sir William Binning's fifth son, Charles Binning (1674-1758), studied law at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, and was admitted an advocate in 1698. In the early 18th century he became associated with the 'Squadrone Volante' - a group of families with much power in Scotland who were allied to the Whig government in London. Through this connection, and although he was never a member of parliament, he was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland in Walpole's government in 1721, but when Walpole ditched the 'Squadrone' in 1725 and allied himself instead with the Campbells, he lost office. He nonetheless remained an important figure in the Faculty of Advocates, where his association with the Dundas clan may have given him influence, and at the end of his life he was appointed Vice-Dean of the Faculty (the Dean then being generally absent on business in London and unable to fulfil the duties of his office in Edinburgh). Charles married in 1706 and in 1722 he purchased the Pilmuir estate at Bolton (East Lothian), which stood only a few miles from Wallyford. He and his wife had only one son, but several daughters, and in around 1750 he sold Pilmuir to his son, William Binning (1716-51), in order to provide funds to make provision for his daughters. William died unexpectedly in 1751, leaving as his heir an infant son who was just a few months old, and who in turn died in 1754. The estate thereupon reverted to Charles' three surviving daughters, but it became apparent that William had died leaving large concealed debts, and in 1761 the estate was sold at the instance of his creditors.

Wallyford House, Musselburgh, Midlothian (now East Lothian)

Wallyford House: entrance doorcase
from MacGibbon & Ross

An externally plain but symmetrical three-storey, gabled, stone-built house with projecting wings on the entrance front, apparently built for John Falconer (1636-86), who inherited the estate in 1670, as the classical doorcase in the centre of entrance front was dated 1672. Some previous authors have speculated that the house may have had earlier origins, but while it is possible there was a previous house on the site, there seems nothing in the plan and decoration of the building to suggest that it was not completely rebuilt.

The ground floor contained the service accommodation and a corridor leading to a handsome square staircase at the west end and thence to the principal rooms on the first floor. The staircase had a solid stone newel finished with attached moulded shafts at either end. The large room at the western end of the first floor was probably the dining room, with a withdrawing room next to it; certainly these were the most important apartments, as they were panelled and had ornamented plaster ceilings. The house was laid out so that these principal rooms had a southern aspect, and a wide corridor or gallery on their north side provided easy communication between the different rooms. 

Wallyford House: plan of principal floor, from MacGibbon & Ross

On the second floor were bedrooms and a large gallery with a boarded ceiling that extended into the roofspace and had sloping sides, as at Pinkie House nearby, although the gallery at Wallyford never received the decorative painting found at Pinkie.

Wallyford House: the ruins from the south-west, shortly before demolition in 1948.

The house was still 'in complete repair' and 'fit for the accommodation of a large and genteel family' when it was advertised to let in 1781 and 1793, but in the 19th century the house ceased to be occupied as a single dwelling, and was used as a store for the Aitchison family's distillery, and later to house 27 families of coal miners brought into the district as additional labour. At the time when it was destroyed by fire in 1884 it was empty apart from a small section which was used as a private school. The absence of water in the locality prevented the fire being contained, and the house seems to have been reduced to bare walls, but happily the plan and some information about the interior had been recorded shortly before the fire by MacGibbon & Ross. The ruins were demolished in 1948 to make way for the construction of a housing estate.

Descent: Sir John Falconer (1612-70), kt.; to son, John Falconer (1636-86), who built the house but sold 1675 to Sir William Binning (1637-1711), kt.; to son, William Binning (1669-c.1734); to son, William Binning (1710-91), who sold 1757 to James Finlay (d. 1782); to son, Robert Finlay (d. 1808); sold c.1811 to [forename unknown] Wilson; sold to Maj. William Aitchison (d. 1846); to Col. Aitchison of Drummore, who sold, by 1856, to Francis Charteris-Wemyss-Douglas (1795-1883), 9th Earl of Wemyss & 5th Earl of March. 

Pilmuir House, Bolton, East Lothian

A small but characterful harled laird's house of 1624, consisting of a single range of two storeys with a dormered attic, and in the centre a square staircase tower with a crowstepped gable that rose a storey higher than the rest of the house. A fat stair-turret which bulges so far out as to need the support of a squinch in the angle was attached to its north-east corner. The harling is now a striking but not traditional burnt orange colour. 

Pilmuir House: the north front in 1975. Image: Crown Copyright.

The ground floor of the stair tower has a moulded doorway with a datestone over it and the initials W.C. and A.B. for William Cairns and Agnes Brown, his wife, who were the builders. In the early 18th century, a new front door was formed on the principal floor in the centre of the south front, and the windows were given their thick glazing bars. Internally, the house had the kitchen and service accommodation on the ground floor, the living rooms on the first floor, and the bedrooms in the attics. The drawing room at the west end of the main floor retains an early 17th century plaster ceiling with moulded ribs and applied moulded decoration, but all the main rooms were given pine panelling in the 18th century. The top floor of the tower is occupied by a room with a coved ceiling.

Pilmuir House: south front in 1975. Image: Crown Copyright.

The house now has a formal, symmetrical approach through a walled courtyard which was presumably created in the 18th century when the south entrance was formed. There are bee-boles in the garden wall and a large 17th century doocot 100 metres south-east of the house.

Descent: built for William Cairns (d. 1653); to son; to cousin, William Borthwick (1641-89) of Johnstounburn... sold c.1722 to Charles Binning (1674-1758); sold to son, William Binning (1716-51); to son, Charles Binning (1751-54) and then to the latter's aunts, Elizabeth (1708-82), wife of Andrew Buchanan of Drumpellier, Catherine (1711-69), wife of David Inglis; and Isabella (d. 1806); sold 1761 to Adam Fairholm; sold 1770 to James, 7th Earl of Lauderdale; sold c.1777... sold c.1927 to Sir Henry Wade (1876-1955); to Sir Henry Wade's Pilmuir Trust; at the time of writing let to Mr & Mrs Christopher Cruden.

Binning family of Wallyford

Binning, Sir William (1637-1711), kt. Only son of James Binning (d. 1663) of Carlowriehaugh and Edinburgh, merchant, and his second wife Euphemia (d. 1670), daughter of [forename unknown] Baillie of Jerviston, born 11 March 1637. Apprenticed to his cousin, Alexander Brand of Edinburgh, merchant, 1655. He was admitted a burgess and guild brother of Edinburgh, 1664, and became a leading and successful merchant in the city, operating chiefly as a linen manufacturer but also as a financier and government contractor; in 1679 he supplied timber joists to the value of over £2,000 for the rebuilding of Holyroodhouse. During the two Dutch wars he joined forces with Sir Robert Baird of Saughton and Sir Robert Barclay of Perceton to fit out privateers. He was a member of the Town Council, 1666-79, and served as Treasurer, 1668-71, Bailie, 1671-72, and Lord Provost, 1675-77. He obtained a grant of arms in 1675 and was knighted while Lord Provost, in January 1677. His later years were marked by several notable instances of bribery and corruption, which, as Inglis puts it, "were a scandal even in a generation not squeamish about public morality". From 1693 he farmed the Scottish customs and excise for five years in partnership with Sir Robert Dickson and Sir Thomas Kennedy, at £20,300 per annum. He was a Commissioner of Supply for Midlothian in 1678, 1685, 1689, 1690 and 1696, and for both Midlothian and East Lothian in 1704, and was a JP for Midlothian in 1708. He was a seat-holder in the Tron Kirk, Edinburgh. He married 1st, 26 December 1662 at Edinburgh, Elspeth alias Elizabeth (1639-98), daughter of Laurence Scott of Bavelaw, and 2nd, 13 April 1701 at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, Mary, second daughter and co-heir of George Livingston of Saltcoats and widow of James or Alexander Menzies of Culterallers, and had issue:

(1.1) Euphame Binning (f.) (1664-65), baptised at Edinburgh, 10 January 1664; died in infancy, November 1665;

(1.2) Laurence Binning (1665-1708), baptised at Edinburgh, 19 November 1665; educated at Edinburgh University (MA 1686); farmer of the Edinburgh excise duty on ale, 1706-08; married, 24 September 1697 at Edinburgh, Margaret, daughter of Sir David Home (1643-1707) of Corserig, a Lord of Session, and had issue two daughters; died of a high fever, 17 May 1708, in the lifetime of his father;

(1.3) Catherine Binning (1667-1746?), baptised at Edinburgh, 24 February 1667; married, 13 February 1697, William Baird (1668-1737), sixth son of Sir Robert Baird (1630-97), 1st bt., of Saughtonhall (Midl.), and had issue seven sons and two daughters; probably the person of that name buried at Edinburgh, 6 October 1746;

(1.4) twin, James Binning (1669-89), baptised at Edinburgh, 30 July 1669; died unmarried and was buried at Greyfriars, Edinburgh, 31 October 1689;

(1.5) twin, William Binning (1669-c.1734) (q.v.);

(1.6) Hugh Binning (b. 1670), baptised at Edinburgh, 28 October 1670; died young;

(1.7) Elizabeth Binning (b. 1672), born 1 October 1672; probably died young;

(1.8) Charles Binning (1674-1758) [for whom see below, Binning family of Pilmuir]; 

(1.9) Richard Binning (1676-96), baptised at Edinburgh, 13 July 1676; died unmarried and was buried at Greyfriars, Edinburgh, 12 June 1696;

(1.10) John Binning (b. 1677), baptised at Edinburgh, 25 December 1677; probably died young.

He purchased the Wallyford estate in March 1675. He lived chiefly at his town house in Parliament Close, Edinburgh, which burned down in 1700, and then moved to a house in Canongate, which also burned down in 1708. After his death, his widow succeeded to the estate of her brother George Livingstone of Saltcoats near Gullane in East Lothian.

He died 8 January 1711 and was buried at Greyfriars, Edinburgh. His first wife was buried at Greyfriars, Edinburgh, 6 December 1698. His widow's date of death is unknown.

Binning, William (1669-1734). Third, but eldest surviving, son of Sir William Binning (1637-1711) of Wallyford and his first wife, Elspeth alias Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence Scott of Bavelaw, baptised at Edinburgh, 30 July 1669. Educated at Edinburgh University (MA 1688). He married, 1709 (contract 25 March) at Abercorn (West Lothian), Isabella (1677-1724), daughter of John Dundas of Duddingston (Midl.), and had issue:

(1) William Binning (1710-91) (q.v.);

(2) Elizabeth Binning (b. 1712), born 26 June 1712; died without issue;

(3) Ann Binning (1715-86), born 18 January 1715; died unmarried at Duddingston, 20/29 January 1786;

(4) John Binning (b. 1716), born 5 June 1716; died without issue;

(5) Laurence Binning (b. 1717), born 19 December 1717; died without issue.

He inherited Wallyford from his father in 1711.

He died 16 July 1734. His wife died 21 February 1724.

Binning, William (1710-91). Eldest son of William Binning (1669-1734) and his wife Isabella, daughter of John Dundas of Duddingston (Midl.), born 27 August and baptised at Inveresk (Midl.), 28 August 1710. He was admitted an advocate, 24 December 1740. He was for many years a director of the Bank of Scotland, and one of the founder managers of the Society for the Relief of the Honest and Industrious Poor, founded in 1773. He was unmarried and without issue.

He inherited Wallyford from his father in 1735 (served heir 3 January 1735), but sold the estate to James Finlay in 1757.

He died unmarried at Edinburgh, 2 February 1791; he left his entire estate (some £13,700) to his kinsman, Dr Alexander Munro, on the condition that he assumed the name and arms of Binning and invested the legacy in lands; in consequence of which Munro-Binning purchased the 500 acre Wester Softlaw estate near Kelso (Roxb.) in 1794.

Binning family of Pilmuir

Binning, Charles (1674-1758). Fifth son of Sir William Binning (1637-1711) of Wallyford and his first wife, Elspeth alias Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence Scott of Bavelaw, born 4 November and baptised at Edinburgh, 12 November 1674. He evidently studied at the University of Utrecht under the distinguished academic lawyer, Cornelis van Eck, and was admitted an advocate, 4 February 1698. He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland in Walpole's government (though he never had a seat in parliament), 1721-25 and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, 1755-58. Evidently a man of wide interests and activities, he was a member of the Hon. Society of Improvers in Agriculture, and of the Copartnery of Freeman Burgesses for establishing a fishing company; and a director of the Bank of Scotland. The Faculty of Advocates appointed him one of the managers of the Charity Workhouse, and he was an original trustee of George Watson's Hospital from 1724. He married, 28 July 1706 at Edinburgh, Margaret, daughter of Hugh Montgomery (1645-1728) of Broomlands (Ayrs.), and had issue:

(1) Elizabeth Binning (1708-82), born 10 January 1708; married, 1 July 1744 at Edinburgh, as his second wife, Andrew Buchanan (1691-1759) of Drumpellier, merchant and provost of Glasgow, 1740-41, but had no issue; died at Edinburgh, 6 November 1782; her will was confirmed 10 December 1782;

(2) Jean Binning (1709-10), born at Edinburgh, 11 October 1709; died in infancy, 1 June 1710;

(3) Catherine Binning (1711-69), born at Edinburgh, 9 May 1711; married, 4 June 1738 at Edinburgh, David Inglis (1702-67), merchant and treasurer of the Bank of Scotland 1757-67, and had issue one son (who died young) and two daughters; died at Edinburgh, 14 December 1769;

(4) Barbara Binning (1712-13). born at Edinburgh, 13 June 1712; died in infancy, 9 February 1713;

(5) William Binning (1716-51) (q.v.); 

(6) Margaret Binning (1717-24), born at Edinburgh, 12 December 1717; died young, 21 February, and was buried at Edinburgh, 23 February 1724;

(7) Isabella Binning (c.1719-1806), probably born about 1719; died unmarried, 28 July, and was buried at Edinburgh, 31 July 1806.

He purchased the Pilmuir House estate in 1722, but lived chiefly at his town house in Edinburgh. At some point around 1750 he sold the Pilmuir estate to his son in order to make financial provision for his daughters.

He died at Broomlands, 14/15 September 1758. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Binning, William (1716-51). Only son of Charles Binning (1674-1758) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Hugh Montgomery of Broomlands (Ayrs.), born at Edinburgh, 27 August 1716. He was admitted an advocate, 12 December 1739. He married, March 1750, Elizabeth (d. 1772?), daughter of Archibald Stuart WS (d. 1767) of Torrence, and had issue:

(1) Charles Binning (1751-54), born 29 March 1751; died young, 1754.

He purchased the Pilmuir estate from his father. After his death the property passed to his infant son and, on this child's death in 1754, to his three surviving sisters. It later emerged that he had contracted large debts unknown to his family and the estate was sold in 1761 at the instance of his creditors.

He died at Kelso (Roxb.) in the lifetime of his father, 30 August, and was buried at Edinburgh, 4 September 1751. His widow lived latterly at Edinburgh, and was probably the 'Mrs Elizabeth Binning' buried there, 3 February 1772.

Principal sources

G. MacGregor, Red Book of Scotland, 2nd edn., 2018, vol. 1, p. 538-41; D. MacGibbon & T. Ross, The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, 1887, vol 4, p. 64; J.A. Inglis, The Munros of Auchenbowie and cognate families, 1911, pp. 139-57; J.A. Inglis, 'Edinburgh during the Provostship of Sir William Binning', The Scottish Historical Review, 1915, pp. 369-87; M. Coventry, The castles of Scotland, 4th edn., 2006, pp. 525, 621; M. Coventry, Castles of the clans, 2008, p. 40; J. Geddes, I. Gow, A. MacKechnie, C. Tabraham & C. McWilliam, The buildings of Scotland: Lothian, 2nd edn., 2024, p. 732.

Location of archives

No significant accumulation is known to survive.

Coat of arms

Binning of Wallyford: Argent, on a bend engrailed sable a wagon or, within a bordure of the second.

Binning of Pilmuir: Argent, on a bend engrailed azure a wagon of the first, within a bordure ermine.

Can your help?

• Can anyone provide additional images of Wallyford House, especially any view of the north (entrance) front before the fire of 1884?
• Can anyone provide fuller ownership information about Pilmuir House between 1777 and 1927?
• 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 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 27 April 2026.