Situated on the east side of the village of Balerno, 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Edinburgh, Malleny House was probably built in 1589, although it has been much modified since. The majority of the house, together with garden enclosure and doo'cot are 17th Century
Originally the property of the Hamiltons of Kilbrackmont, in 1634 the estate was acquired by Sir James Murray of Kilbaberton, architect to King Charles I. In 1647, the estate passed to the William Scott, an Edinburgh lawyer originally from Ayrshire, then in 1882 to Archibald Primrose, the 5th Earl of Rosebery (1847 - 1929) and British Prime Minister), although it was occupied by Sir Thomas and Lady Gibson-Carmichael. The property passed briefly to Lord Geddes (1955-60) and then to Commander and Mrs Gore-Browne-Henderson, who gave the house and gardens to the National Trust for Scotland in 1968.
