Glen Tanar’s story stretches back to the Victorian era, when Sir William Cunliffe Brooks, a Manchester MP and merchant banker, purchased the land from the Marquis of Huntly in 1865. Working with architect, George Truefitt, he created much of the estate’s character that remains today, from the Glen Tanar Ballroom, the landscaped gardens to the Tower O’Ess and the many buildings throughout the estate.
In 1905, the estate passed to George Coats, great grandson of the founder of the world-renowned thread manufacturer J&P Coats. George later became Lord Glentanar, and his stewardship marked the beginning of a long family connection with the glen.
Since then, Glen Tanar has remained in the care of the same family across five generations, with each era balancing tradition and change.
Heritage at Glen Tanar isn’t only about the past — it’s alive in the people, projects and seasons of today. Our regular updates share life around the estate, from sustainability work, community events, wildlife and estate experiences, to behind-the-scenes stories.
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Every stone bridge, inscribed trough and Victorian building tells part of Glen Tanar’s story. It is a place where history is not just remembered, but lived — carried forward by the people who care for it and by the visitors who experience it today.
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