Huntershill House

Huntershill House is a classic example of an 18th-century Laird's house, built c.1769-1781, designed by an unknown architect. The lands of Huntershill were formerly part of the lands of Auchinairn owned by James Lyle; "his circumstances having become embarrassed his Lands of Auchinairn were sold by his Creditors by Public Roup in several lots" on the 15th day of October 1748. From the 1780s it was the family home of the political reformer Thomas Muir, Younger of Huntershill (1765–1799).

Auchinairn is now closely entwined with Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Huntershill house is currently owned by East Dunbartonshire Council, and is a category B listed building, unfortunately during their ownership the building has fallen into disrepair and has ended up being listed on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.

Huntershill house was built by a Glasgow merchant named James Martin. It was situated beside the old post road from Glasgow to Stirling (Crowhill Road) which, however, ceased to be a main road during the 1790s when the Inchbelly Turnpike trustees built a new road on the present Kirkintilloch Road alignment.

In August 1781 the house was advertised for sale along with other property belonging to Martin, who had recently died. The following year it was purchased by James Muir, father of Thomas, and became the family home for some time afterwards. James Muir advertised the house for sale in December 1798, when it was said to consist of "a Kitchen, nine Fire-rooms, besides Garret-rooms, Closets, and two sunk Cellars". James Muir died in 1801 and the house was sold by his Trustees to the Gallaway family.

The house passed through the hands of many different occupiers but remained in the ownership of the Gallaway family from 1803 until 1953, when it was sold by the Gallaway Trustees to Mrs. Olive McGilvray with the following burdens:

“(Fifth) In order to ensure the preservation of the existing buildings of Huntershill House and the policy ground thereof as an ancient monument in the national interest, the structure of Huntershill House will not be altered nor will the policy ground be altered or built upon but the policy ground shall remain open and unbuilt upon unless the consent of the National Trust for Scotland be first obtained in writing to any proposed alteration of the said Huntershill House or to any alteration or erection on said policy ground and no building or erection shall be placed on and no operation of any kind be carried on upon any part of the ground hereby disponed which lies outwith said policy which would affect the amenity of Huntershill House and policy ground as an ancient monument”

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