Arts & Culture \ Papple Steading

Papple Steading is a Grade B listed farm steading a few miles south-east of Haddington in East Lothian, on the edge of the Lammermoor Hills. It was originally in the ownership of the Balfour family, the most prominent member being Arthur Balfour, Prime Minister from 1902-05, and later author of the "Balfour Declaration". The current owner has already renovated the nearby house and cottages as holiday accommodation and his vision for the steading itself is to offer more accommodation, to offer the centre as a residential corporate retreat with an auditorium and catering, and to convert much of the steading into an agricultural museum displaying machinery from the 18th and 19th centuries, that he has collected.

An intrusive large shed is to be demolished and replaced by an octagonal auditorium taking its inspiration from the horse mills found throughout the county. New holiday accommodation is placed at the head of a paved long courtyard which has further hospitality conversion on either side. The remainder of the work is mostly internal.

Phase 2.1 which includes Eve’s Court, the Demarco Gallery, Doocot, Stables and Library are now complete. Work on the rest of the steading is hoped to start soon.