The estate on which the house stands belonged to the Douglas family of
Pumpherston. It was recorded as far back as the 16th century, when it was known as Over Howden. The daughter of the chemist
James Young lived in the house until her death in 1931, when it was sold to Sir
Adrian Baillie of
Polkemmet, who bought it for his mother, Lady Baillie. Just after midnight on Tuesday 25 June 1940 a bomb fell on the coach house and stables, killing Mrs Maria Fleming and her granddaughter Margaret, aged 10. These were the first civilians to be killed on the Scottish mainland and West Lothian's only deaths by bombing in
World War II. Howden House is a category B
listed building. ==Howden Park Centre==