MILLBURN TOWER
Millburn Tower ©
Designed by William Atkinson for Sir Robert Liston, built in three parts 1806, 1815 and 1821, in the style of a castellated mansion. The fine chimneypieces were not original but added in the refurbishment of the 1980s.
Robert Liston was born in 1742 at Overton Farm, Kirkliston, he was educated in the village, later attending Edinburgh University. He then embarked on a career as a tutor, travelling with the sons of gentlemen around Europe, thus broadening his knowledge of foreign languages.
In 1773 when the Ambassador of Bavaria, (a fellow Scot), needed a secretary, Liston applied for and was accepted for the job. By 1781 he was in Turin with Lord Mountstuart’s embassy and in 1783 he became Minister Plenipotentiary at Madrid.
Sir Robert Liston purchased the farm of Damhead for his mother and aunt Margaret. Later the name was changed to Millburn.
From 1788 to 1793 Liston was Envoy Extraordinary at Stockholm; he was then moved to Constantinople. Returning to Scotland in 1796 he married Henrietta Marchant the daughter of a Glasgow merchant who owned a sugar plantation on the island of Antigua.
In 1798 Over Gogar Mains became Gogar Bank owned by Sir Robt. Liston and Cumberland Reid. Liston’s part was called Gogar Green.
Liston took his bride to Philadelphia where he served until 1802 in America as the British Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. They then returned to Europe where Sir Robert acted in his diplomatic capacity in Batavia and Denmark until he retired in 1804.
It was only on his retiral in 1804 that he took up residence at Damhead until 1811.
In 1804 Captain George Parkyns designed an American Garden for Lady Liston, complete with lochs.
In 1811 Liston was recalled to the diplomatic service as His Majesty’s Ambassador and Plenipotentiary Extraordinary to the Sublime Ottoman Porte, and did not return until 1821.
Sir Robert’s sister, Henrietta Ramage was housekeeper for many years whilst he was on Ambassadorial duties.
In 1817 he was known as Sir Robert Liston of Listonshields.
In 1821 he had the Gothic style mansion Millburn Towers built.
He purchased the old Gogar Village in 1831/2 with a view to providing homes for ladies of decayed fortunes. However this was a failed venture.
1833 Post-Directory. Mrs. Ramage.
Sir Robert died in 1836 aged 94; his medical condition so interested his doctors that a post mortem was carried out and a paper written by Dr. Craig of Ratho, for the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal.
Liston Tombstone ©
Having no heirs the name passed to his nephew Captain Robert Ramage RN who added Liston to his name. The estates staying in the Liston family name.
1841 Census
Janet Liston (45),
Henrietta (20),
Jessy (15).
1851 Census
Agnes Rankine (76).
In 1860 the property was let to a John Borthwick.
1881 Census
James Liston Foulis (33) Baronet landed proprietor,
Sarah Helen (35), his wife and their five children.
1891 Census
James Liston Foulis (43) Army retired,
William (21) apprentice chartered ?
Charles (18) apprentice oriental bank,
Ethel (12).
Curling was played on the pond at Millburn in the 1800s and the Corstorphine Curling Club played here on occasion.
1930 Lieutenant Colonel William Glen Liston.
Amy Johnson and her husband Jim Mollison visited Millburn Tower after the Melbourne Air Race. Jim Mollison was the nephew of Mrs Renwick, who resided at Millburn Towers with her husband at this time.
Mr Renwick whose sugar business was in India had retired. However, on the outbreak of World War II he returned to India to look after the business. His son who had been in the jute industry joined the army and remained in the services until 1951 when he and his wife returned to Millburn Tower to look after his parents.
During the Second World War, the Duke of Hamilton resided here and it was believed that this was where Rudolph Hess intended to go when he flew to this country in 1941.
Prince Olaf of Norway also resided here and a number of his naval officers were billeted at the house.
1968 the Renwicks sold the house to the Byard family.
It was later purchased by G & L Electronics who, in turn, sold it to Walter Scott & Partners, Investment Managers, who are the current occupiers.