We’ve reviewed the scones at Callendar House twice before, once in 2015 and again in 2017. With a seven year gap we thought readers would be ready for an update.
Callendar House, which used to be owned by the Forbes family, lies about a hundred yards south of the Antonine Wall which the Romans built all the way across Scotland. It formed the northern edge of their Empire. The southern edge was bounded by Arabia and the Sahara desert. They regarded everything south of the Antonine Wall as “civilised” and everything north as “barbaric and more bother than it’s worth”. The Romans are long gone but that view hasn’t changed much over the intervening two millennia. FYI, our house lies on the civilised side … obviously!
Dangers of crinoline dresses
Actually, we just decided to take a walk round the small loch that lies to the east of the house. Something we hadn’t done in a long time. Back in the day, all grand houses had a loch of their own and it wasn’t simply a conceit on the part of the owners. In the absence of any kind of organised public fire fighting service a loch was seen as essential as a readily available water supply in the event of an inferno.
Probably not much use when people like Oliver Cromwell were deliberately trying to set fire to the place but even in peace times, conflagrations were seen as relatively likely given the number of ladies in crinoline dresses swishing about in front of open fires under a multitude of candelabras. Of course, even if you had your own loch, it would still have been difficult if there was only you and a bucket. You needed servants and lots of them but, of course, that wasn’t a problem for the aristocracy.
Gentrification
If you’ve ever had ambitions, or even just wondered how to become an aristocrat perhaps we can help. Back in 1783 Callendar House and the Estate that encompassed most of Falkirk was being sold by auction. The Earl of Errol (an oven ready aristocrat) had high ambitions at the auction but was eventually outbid by an upstart scrap merchant, one William Forbes, from Aberdeen. Eyebrows were raised. Not only that, in true scrap merchant style, he pulled the cash from his hip pocket and paid for it on the spot. Subsequently he became Sir William Forbes, 1st Lord of Callendar … and that’s how you join the aristocracy. Common as muck one day and a Knight of the Realm the next! Probably wasn’t quite like that but you catch our drift.
A new experience
Although Callendar House is pretty much in the centre of Falkirk most towns folk had never been anywhere near it. The Forbes kept it very private. However, in 1963 the local Council took it over, opened it up to the public and established a cafe for non-aristocrats like ourselves. After our walk it was nice to get inside and settle down with some coffee. And we could either have a plain or, surprise, surprise, a milk chocolate and strawberry scone. In the interests of expanding reader’s sconological knowledge we rather tentatively opted for the latter.
On previous visits we have been quite critical of this tearoom. To us, it never seems to ever reach its full potential. We could still level that accusation now but at least on this occasion there were staff on hand and we were attended to promptly and quite pleasantly if not smilingly. Still no cream but the scone itself was really nice … no crunchiness but fresh and moist. With this combination there was really no need for jam or cream, it was delicious just with a little butter. A topweird scone!
Agreements
In 1565 the marriage agreement between Mary Queen of Scots and the French Dauphin, Francis was signed in Callendar House. 
It provided that Scotland and France should eventually be united as one kingdom, We all know how that went. Since then Scotland has been in Europe and then back out again … better to hold onto something if you are starting to feel a bit dizzy. Westminster has now reached some sort of agreement in N.Ireland to restore power-sharing at Stormont. It seems Westminster is going to try to persuade the EU that nothing has changed and that N. Ireland is still in the EU rather than the UK while simultaneously persuading everyone else of the opposite. With Westminster’s well honed skills in duplicity, they may well succeed!
FK1 1YR tel: 01324 503775 Callendar House Tearoom
///wishes.dozen.parks
Bought for a song indeed. As far as I remember the price was £1 this taking into account the high cost of renovating the house which of course was a listed building. The acquiring surveyor was Alec Cargill who I had the pleasure of both working and drinking with. He drove a hard bargain.
The Laird
I had a notion that it sold for £1 so thanks for confirming. Did Alec Cargill work for the Council or D M Hall?
District Valuers Office Stirling. A Civil Service department responsible for compulsory purchase on behalf of the Local Authorities. They also did valuation work for tax purposes.
I was there for a year (1968) and my responsibility was buying sub-standard stone tenement flats which were then demolished and the sites re-developed with things made of concrete. Blame me for tearing the heart out of Laurieston, Camelon, Denny and the Wellgreen Stirling. A black stain I am now ashamed to admit to. In mitigation I was generous to
the flat owners. Almost all welcomed the acquisition as they were re-housed in properties with proper facilities. Many of the flats had outside toilets and no hot water systems. Nevertheless a lot of interesting Victorian tenements which could have been saved were bulldozed.
David
That scone sounds delicious! And (my) Forbes wants his house back. However the only cash he has in his pocket is usually just enough to visit the local thrift shop and certainly not to buy it.
Falkirk Council never wanted the house Violet, they just wanted the land. The house was part of the final deal … take it or leave it! The Council had no idea what to do with it and Forbes could probably have bought it for a song back then. Doubtful, however, that he would have become a Knight of the Realm because I know that’s what he would really have been after. “Sir Forbes Fraser” has a certain ring to it though!
We had a lovely wee walk around the loch, it has been a long time since we were down that way. It was nice to see lots of folk in the park and quite a few using the tearoom. The milk chocolate and strawberry scone was surprisingly nice.