Nestled to the north of the lushly-wooded banks of the River Esk, lawns rolling away to the east and west, are what appear to be two country manors. In fact, they are all that now remain of a far larger construction, built in 1786-7 as a hunting lodge for the 3rd Duke of Buccleuch, by architect James Playfair (who the Duke described in a letter as being “often very confused in his accounts though I believe an honest man at bottom”). The two buildings you can see today were but the northeast and southwest wings of the original lodge (the northeast house being mostly of original design). Partially destroyed in a fire, the lodge was rebuilt c.1793. As a Buccleuch summer residence, Langholm Lodge played host to many distinguished guests over the years. Among them were Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester; Prince George, Duke of Kent; and, on two occasions, Sir Winston Churchill. In 1940, a year into the Second World War, a large military camp was built on the adjacent Castle Holm, and the Lodge was requisitioned for officers’ quarters. The main house was demolished in 1953, leaving the two wings extant, later converted into the residential premises still standing today.