Arniston House is a significant example of early to mid-eighteenth-century Scottish classical architecture. Designed by William Adam and completed in the 1750s under the supervision of his son, John Adam, the house underwent later interventions by both John and Robert Adam. These works introduced a more refined internal arrangement, most notably in the drawing room and dining room, which represent the architectural culmination of the Adam family’s involvement at Arniston.

By the 1950s, prolonged water ingress had resulted in extensive decay, leading to widespread dry rot and the loss of much of the ornamental plasterwork, joinery, and finishes within the principal reception rooms. The damage rendered these interiors largely unusable and at significant risk.

With grant support from Historic Scotland, a programme of repair and reinstatement was undertaken. This work included the removal of damaged fabric, detailed archival research, and the reconstruction of key architectural features using traditional materials and techniques. Surviving elements were consolidated, and missing components were replaced following historic precedent, with careful attention paid to proportion, materiality, and finish.

Now under the stewardship of the Dundas-Bekker family, Arniston House is once again accessible to the public. The conservation project has reinstated the architectural integrity of the principal interiors and ensured the long-term viability of one of Scotland’s most important domestic classical buildings.