Step back in time marks 80 years of NTS ownership ‘
Don your 1940s finery and immerse yourself in a weekend of history with the National Trust for Scotland’s 1940s day event at the House of the Binns, Linlithgow, on Saturday 13 July.
The property is still inhabited by the same family that built it several centuries ago. The charity says that the House of the Binns stands as a living testament to Scotland’s rich heritage.
It’s been home to the illustrious Dalyell family for more than 400 years. In 1944, Eleanor Dalyell made a historic decision by signing over the deeds of the Binns estate to the National Trust for Scotland.
Now, eight decades later, the charity is commemorating this pivotal moment with a special event transporting visitors back to the 1940s.
The house and its collections are set in beautiful grounds, just a 30-minute drive from Edinburgh, offering fantastic views over the Firth of Forth.
On Saturday 13 July, the House of the Binns will host an event to give visitors a glimpse of the past and experience life during wartime Scotland. So, dust off your vintage attire and join in for a day filled with nostalgia, education and entertainment.
The event will allow you to be immersed into the sights and sounds of the 1940s with the Edinburgh LDV and Catching the Past re-enactment groups.
From captivating stories to authentic vintage fashion, the knowledgeable groups will bring history to life before your eyes.
The National Trust for Scotland celebrates 80 years of caring for the House of the Binns with a unique 1940s themed event. Image: NTS.
Exploring the estate and its wartime history
There will also be customed guided tours with a journey through the House of the Binns, led by guides dressed in their 1940s best.
It’s a chance for you to explore the nooks and crannies of this magnificent estate while learning about its fascinating wartime history.
There is even a best dressed competition with a chance to show off your best 1940s fashion and vie for the title of best-dressed attendee.
‘We are thrilled to commemorate 80 years since Eleanor Dalyell entrusted the National Trust for Scotland to care for the Binns estate,’ says Helen Knox, Visitor Services Manager at House of the Binns, at the National Trust for Scotland.
‘This event not only celebrates our rich history but also offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the past in a meaningful and immersive way.’
The estate offers specially guided tours that delve into the Dalyell family tree and heritage. It includes history surrounding General Tam Dalyell who was also known as ‘Bluidy Tam.’
He was a Scottish general who fought in the War of the Three Kingdoms during the seventeenth century. A standout story for many visitors is Tam’s alleged card game with the Devil – in which his cheating was discovered.
The story goes that Auld Nick launched the table they were playing on across the room. It narrowly missed Tam’s head and landing in the pond outside the house.
Two centuries later, after a significant drought, the table was rediscovered in the pond and is a prized visitor attraction with a mysterious hoof mark burned into one of the corners.