Prestonhall (possible)

Prestonhall is a Classical mansion house however it is built on the site of, or incorporates remnants of, an older house.

Whether or not the older house was a castle is not clear, so for now I have listed it as a possible castle pending further research. The lands associated with the property were originally part of the Thomastoun estate and were owned prior to 1614 by the Turnbulls of Airdrie.

Elizabeth Turnbull, daughter and heiress of William Turnbull of Airdrie, married Sir John Preston of Penicuik, son of Sir John Preston, Lord Fentonbarns, and is said to have built a new mansion house which he named Prestonhall.

Some sources give a date of 1614 for the construction of this new house however in 1623 the son of Sir John and Lady Turnbull, another John, was confirmed in the lands of Thomastoun including “a lodging and tenement or big mansion beside the burgh of Cupar, with garden, doocot and fishing on the Eden”. This may suggest that the new house had not yet been renamed or perhaps even that it had not yet been built with the “big mansion” referring to an older building.

At some point in the 18th century the 17th century house was either incorporated into or replaced by a three bay two storey Classical mansion with associated lectern doocot. The house now sits within an industrial estate.