Thainstone House

Perched on parkland in the approaches to Inverurie, Thainstone House is an elegant country mansion now operating as a luxury hotel and spa. However, this was once the center of the estate owned by two branches of the House of Forbes: first to a cadet of the Forbes of Tolquhon and then a cadet of the Forbes of Craigievar, later known as the Forbes-Mitchells.

In 1467, the estate was acquired by Alexander Forbes of Thainston, who was the son of Henry Forbes of Logie and grandson of Sir John Forbes, second laird of Tolquhon. The estate remain in his family for almost 250 years. In 1716, the estate was sold to Thomas Mitchell, baillie of Aberdeen, whose only child, Barbara, married her cousin, Sir Andrew Mitchell FRS, MP, for the Elgin Burghs and British envoy to the Prussian Court during the Seven Years War. Sir Andrew erected the original house, which was burnt by the Jacobites in the rebellion of 1745 and later rebuilt.

Sir Andrew, having no issue, bequeathed the estate to Sir Arthur Forbes, 5th laird of Craigievar and 4th Baronet (1709 – 1773), who, in 1772, entailed it on Duncan (1757 – 1796), his fourth son, who thus became Forbes-Mitchell of Thainston. Duncan Forbes-Mitchell married Catherine Fraser of Fraserfield and had seven sons and two daughters. Four of his surviving sons had no issue, and so each inherited the estate from his older brother: Arthur Andrew, his heir (1779-1801); William of the Royal Navy (1782-1808); Duncan (1784-18122); and John (1786-1822). The youngest brother, John, passed on the estate to his son Duncan Forbes-Mitchell of Thainstone (1812-1870), who married Maria Bromley, daughter of Lt.-Col. Robert Anthony Bromley, on 18 February 1834.

Between about 1835 to 1840, Duncan Forbes-Mitchell hired the prominent Scottish architect Archibald Simpson to greatly expand the house into a classical Italianate country house. He added a broad six-bay frontage for the first-floor principal apartments raised over the ground-floor services, and, on the west side, a small square tower with a very low pyramidal roof. The house is faced in sandy golden harl with grey granite ashlar dressings and shallow-pitched roofs with boldly oversailing bracketed eaves. A porte cochere, round-arched with a pediment, dominates the center of the eastern flank. The porte cochere opens directly into an impressive segmentally vaulted and top-lit stairway in the center of the house, between the principal apartments and the old house on the north side. (Sharples, Joseph; Walker, David W.; and Woodworth, Matthew. 2015. The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire: South and Aberdeen.New Haven and London: Yale University Press.)

His son, John Forbes-Mitchell (1843 – 1882), sold the estate. He married Jane Maria Rawson, daughter of Thomas James Rawson, in 1870, but he died without issue. Around 1992, the house was converted into a hotel and was greatly extended by respected Scottish architect William Lippe, based in Inverurie. His additions carefully respected the style of Simpson's main house. (Shepherd, Ian. 2006. Aberdeenshire: Donside and Strathbogie - An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Edinburgh: Rutland Press.)

While Thainstone House maintains an impressive reputation as a luxury hotel today, the venue is also famous for its resident ghost. According to legend, a daughter of a former owner of the house was crushed after a horse-riding accident. She was rushed to one of the bedrooms but later died from her injuries. Her ghost is said to appear in a green riding cloak in Room 406 and is known as The Green Lady. Professional ghost hunter and TV spiritualist Derek Acorah claims to have seen the apparition on February 14, 2007. The Green Lady has been immortalized at the hotel by having its restaurant named in her honor.

Thainstone House Indoor Pool

Thainstone House stands today as a refined hotel with deep historical roots. From its origins as a Forbes estate to its transformation under the Forbes-Mitchells and later architectural expansion by Archibald Simpson, the house has long reflected the tastes and ambitions of its owners. Its conversion into a hotel in the late 20th century, with sensitive additions by William Lippe, ensured the preservation of its character while opening it to public enjoyment. With the legend of the Green Lady adding a touch of mystery, Thainstone continues to blend heritage and hospitality in a setting shaped by centuries of change.