Henry Erskine was a notable Scottish lawyer who
was appointed twice as the Lord Advocate for Scotland. He bought
the Almondell Estate and designed and built Almondell House which
was finished in 1812. Sadly, Henry died at Almondell on the 17th of
November 1823 from pneumonia, caught on a sea voyage. He was 72
years of age, and was interred in the family burying-place at
Uphall.
The Almondell estate was eventually broken up and sold in 1969,
with West Lothian Council acquiring the land. Almondell House
itself was demolished. Apparently it was a clean, simple looking
building with a symmetrical two-storey centre section flanked by
pavilion-roofed wings and other offices. It stood where the
disabled car park is now. The stables were converted into the
vistor centre, with its interesting displays and
aquarium.
Cache placed with the kind permission of the wardens of
Almondell & Calderwood Country Park.