Introduction

This company acquired forfeited estates in Scotland following the failure of the Jacobite Rising of 1715. (The company name refers to a previous purpose of the company, to establish a water works at the York Buildings in London.) The company had a diverse portfolio in Scotland, including the Strontian Lead Mines, Kilsyth Colliery and Tranent Waggonway. Lead was stripped from the roof of Edzell Castle. Estates purchased included Panmure, Kilsyth, Winton and East Reston in 1719 and Marischal, Southesk, Linlithgow, Fingask and Pitcairn in 1720.