Torchwood House, also known as the Torchwood Estate, was a stately home owned by the MacLeish Family since the 16th century, as part of the MacLeish Estate. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Two, Tooth and Claw) It was located in rural Aberdeenshire, (TV: Children of Earth: Day Two) next to the Glen of St Catherine. (PROSE: Visiting)
Parts of the house dated back to the 15th century, though it was extensively rebuilt in the late 17th century. (PROSE: History of the House) Much of the house again fell into disrepair in the 19th century, when the house was owned by Sir George MacLeish. (PROSE: History of the House) Construction of the observatory, under the auspices of Victoria's husband, Prince Consort Albert of Saxe Coburg, almost bankrupted the Estate. (PROSE: The Time Travellers' Almanac, TV: Tooth and Claw)
The name of the house came from the wood used in the construction of the Great Staircase. Legend said that it was made from gallows struck down by lightning - "the Torched Wood", though later studies found that the staircase had been rebuilt during the time of Sir George MacLeish, using Amyris elemifera. (PROSE: History of the House)
The house notably gave name to the Torchwood Institute, after Queen Victoria encountered the Lupine Wavelength Haemovariform while staying at the estate. (TV: Tooth and Claw) Following the visit, Queen Victoria never returned to Torchwood House. (PROSE: History of the House)
The estate was purchased by the Crown in 1893, (PROSE: Welcome to Torchwood House) after which it was used to house the Torchwood Archive. (AUDIO: The Torchwood Archive) Archie Bell resided and worked there as early as 1897. (AUDIO: Apex, The Victorian Age) Though parts of the house opened to the public from 1981 onwards, (PROSE: Welcome to Torchwood House) the house remained under private ownership as an archive facility until 2007, after which it was passed to the National Trust for Scotland. (AUDIO: Regrets) The house was famed for both its grounds and observatory, and was considered a jewel of the Highlands. (PROSE: Welcome to Torchwood House)
History[]
Some parts of Torchwood House dated back to the 15th century. (PROSE: History of the House) It was the home of the MacLeish family for over three centuries. (PROSE: The Time Travellers' Almanac)
The house was extensively rebuilt in the late 17th century. (PROSE: History of the House)
Much of the house fell into disrepair in the 19th century, when the house was owned by Sir George MacLeish, (PROSE: History of the House) as he focused his attention and funds on the Torchwood Observatory at the top of the building. (PROSE: The Time Travellers' Almanac) This was done under the auspices of Victoria's husband, Prince Consort Albert of Saxe Coburg, who helped Sir George create the light chamber. (TV: Tooth and Claw) Construction of the observatory almost bankrupted the Estate. (PROSE: The Time Travellers' Almanac) He also notably rebuilt the Great Staircase using Amyris elemifera and had the walls and doors of the library varnished with viscum album - oil of mistletoe. In 1879, the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler helped defend Queen Victoria from a werewolf, setting up the foundations for the Torchwood Institute.
The light chamber, used in conjunction with the Koh-i-Noor, was used to kill the Lupine Wavelength Haemovariform who tried to infect the Queen. The house suffered major damage during the attack; several doors were broken down, a table crushed and the glass dome of the library shattered. Moreover, all of the male staff, including the steward, were killed by the creature. Sir Robert MacLeish, the house owner and Captain Reynolds, Victoria's protector, also lost their lives in the attack.
As a direct result of these events, Victoria created the Torchwood Institute. On permanently banishing the Doctor and Rose from the British Empire (concurrently with knighting them both), she warned that they should beware of Torchwood should they ever attempt to return. (TV: Tooth and Claw) Following the visit, Queen Victoria never returned to Torchwood House. (PROSE: History of the House)
Following the death of Sir Robert MacLeish, the male line of the family was extinguished and Lady Isobel ordered the house shut up.
The estate was subsequently purchased by the Crown in 1893, (PROSE: Welcome to Torchwood House) believed by many to be in remembrance of the close bond between the MacLeishes and Queen Victoria's beloved husband Prince Albert. (PROSE: History of the House)
For some time in the 19th and 20th centuries, Torchwood House housed the Torchwood Archive. (AUDIO: The Torchwood Archive) It remained an archive facility until 2007. (AUDIO: Regrets)
The house opened to the public in 1981. (PROSE: Welcome to Torchwood House) The public could access Queen Victoria's bedroom, among other rooms in the house. (PROSE: History of the House) It also had a tearoom, which sold non-alcoholic beverages, various desserts including Millingdale Ice Cream, and a selection of shortbreads baked in a nearby monastery. (PROSE: Visiting)
Tales of the supernatural still haunted the estate, with stories of deformed ghosts, sinister monks and werewolves passing into local folklore. (PROSE: History of the House) There was even a story that witchcraft was once performed in the kitchens. (PROSE: Visiting) Such stories were said to have inspired authors including James Hogg, Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott. (PROSE: History of the House)
In 2006, HRH Prince Charles officially opened the "House of History" exhibition in the Old Dining Room. At this time the house was open to the public between April and September, though the upstairs rooms were closed, undergoing extensive renovations which were due to be completed in 2008. Flash photography and recording equipment were not permitted anywhere in the house or grounds. (PROSE: Visiting) According to Abby McPhail, the house was private until 2007. (AUDIO: Regrets)
In 2016, James Stirling III lived at Torchwood House. John Hart broke into the house and shot Stirling, stealing the Astrolabe that he kept there. (COMIC: World Without End)
The house was still open to the public in 2023, when the cellar was robbed. Due to this incident, it was soon after visited by Abby McPhail and Shawna Thompson. At this time, it was owned by the National Trust for Scotland, and the curator was Morag Stewart. It had appeared in an episode of Most Haunted. Morag had maintained some level of contact with "Archie [...] from the Institute", but her recent calls to him had not been answered, noting that they had "had to close the tearoom". (AUDIO: Regrets)
Location[]
It was three hours' drive away from Glasgow. (AUDIO: Regrets [+]Juno Dawson, Redacted (BBC Sounds, 2023).)
It was located near to the Glen of Saint Catherine monastery. (PROSE: Weddings [+]Joseph Lidster, Torchwood House website fiction (BBC, 2006).)
Functions[]
Two individuals getting married at the house. (PROSE: Weddings [+]Joseph Lidster, Torchwood House website fiction (BBC, 2006).)
As early as 2006, (PROSE: Weddings [+]Joseph Lidster, Torchwood House website fiction (BBC, 2006).) and as late as 2023, (AUDIO: Regrets [+]Juno Dawson, Redacted (BBC Sounds, 2023).), the house was licensed to hold weddings and civil partnerships. They had a photographer, and claimed to be able to provide "local delicacies" and cater for over 200 guests. (PROSE: Weddings [+]Joseph Lidster, Torchwood House website fiction (BBC, 2006).)
Behind the scenes[]
The filming location was the same place the Torchwood cast stayed whilst filming Countrycide. (DCOM: Day One)
