In early June members of the society had the opportunity to visit Broomhall House, the family seat of the Earls of Elgin, three miles south-west of Dunfermline, Fife.
We were entertained by Lord Charles Bruce – a descendent of George Bruce, the remarkable engineer who planned and built the undersea mining operation at the Moat Pit, Culross (1590) that we learned about in a meeting earlier this year. On arrival Lord Bruce welcomed us with tea and coffee and then over the next few hours explained how the complex building history of the house reflects both the tides of wider Scottish history as well as family fortunes. We had a very informative tour of the house, demonstrating the nuances of its architecture and design. In doing so, members had plenty of time to look over the fascinating collection of paintings and historical artefacts in each of the rooms visited. Especially appreciated was Lord Bruce’s highly entertaining account – littered with annecdotes – of his fascinating family history including international and charitable exploits. The tour finished with an invitation to picnic and explore the estate.
