The merchant
John Clerk returned to Scotland from France in 1646 and purchased the
estate and
barony of Penicuik, the "Penicuik Policies", including the older Newbiggin House, which he extended and improved. The estate became the residence and title of his descendants. From 1700 to 1730, the laird
Sir John Clerk of Penicuik planted 300,000 trees on the estate. The current Penicuik House was built in 1761 by Sir James Clerk, the 4th Laird of Penicuik and 3rd Baronet. Clerk had travelled widely, especially in Italy, and had studied
Italian architecture. Now a roofless shell, it is constructed of
ashlar, it has a central
hexastyle portico with two-way stair,
piano nobile, basement and
Palladian windows. The interior was gutted by fire in 1899, but formerly had many fine rooms. The house was a great meeting place for figures of the
Scottish Enlightenment, who came to view its collection of paintings, including a noted ceiling painting of
Ossian's Hall and four scenes from the life of
Saint Margaret by
Alexander Runciman. == Replica of Arthur's O'on ==