Blantyre Lenox

Travel 120 miles west of Boston, 138 miles from New York City, and discover Blantyre. Set amidst 110 acres of spectacular Berkshire countryside, this Tudor-style mansion, built-in 1902, replicates a grand Scottish manor. Blantyre's splendor reflects the love and devotion of owners Jack and Jane Fitzpatrick and their daughter, Ann.

With its lovely leaded glass windows, richly burnished woods, and luxurious fabrics, the inside of Blantyre is exactly what you would expect upon seeing the outside of the building. In the Main House, there are overstuffed chairs, fresh flowers, a light-filled music room, and rooms for private dining — all designed with their guests' comfort in mind. The heart of the house, the baronial Main Hall on the first floor, is an eclectic mix of period pieces and treasured heirlooms specially assembled under owner Ann Fitzpatrick Brown and her mother Jane's discerning eyes.

The Tudor-style manor houses eight exquisite bedrooms and suites, many with fireplaces. The twelve accommodations in the nearby Carriage House echo the warm and lush fabrics, antiques, and style of the Main House, as do the four private cottages. Every bedroom at Blantyre has a distinct character.

Dining is an exceptional event at Blantyre. Late every afternoon, the Main House undergoes a lovely transformation as it is prepared for the delightful dining experience to come that evening. Linens are brought out. Tables are set with sterling silver, fine china, crystal, and fresh flowers. Beautiful music fills the air, and candles are lit. Under the knowing eye of Chef Christopher Brooks, the kitchen is a hive of activity as the finest ingredients are used to create a memorable dining experience.

The History, Heritage, & Today - Robert Paterson was introduced to the Lenox, MA area in the late 1890s by his friend John Sloan (of W&J Sloane). Lenox already had many great estates even before Blantyre, prompting the area to be known as “the queen of inland resorts” or, as Cleveland Amory wrote, “the Switzerland of America.” Paterson acquired the Lenox estate of 220 acres called “Highlawn” from the Dorr family. He tore down the modest house, keeping the outbuildings. Hence, the Carriage House Stables and The Retreat at Blantyre date from the late 19th century. He set about building a property on a grand scale, although the initial plans were purported to be drawn on the back of an envelope by the architect Robert Henderson Robertson. For no less than a castle of “feudal architectural features,” Robert Paterson's concept was replete with towers, turrets, and gargoyles. The house was modeled after his mother’s ancestral home in Blantyre, Scotland. Construction began in 1901, at times employing over 300 people on the grounds and buildings.

The Manor House was furnished in English style with all furniture brought in from England. The family used the house during summer and fall seasons and entertained frequently, as was the fashion in those days. There were garden parties with musicians imported from New York and grand dinner-dances, with each party becoming more and more lavish, befitting the “Gilded Age.” When the end of the era came some 15 to 20 years later, hastened by the introduction of the income tax, so, too, ended a lifestyle that was never to be repeated. Over the next 60 years, Blantyre went through several transitions, including a particularly destructive period in the 1970s.

In 1980, Jack and Jane Fitzpatrick fell in love with the abandoned Blantyre and organized to purchase it for their daughter, Ann Fitzpatrick Brown, who became the eighth owner. Determined to restore it to its former elegance, Ann reopened Blantyre in 1981, after extensive renovation. Blantyre achieved the vision of the Fitzpatricks – a beautiful country house, recognized as one of the finest hotels in the world, where guests can come and stay and experience the life and service of a bygone era.

Beginning in 2000, Ann and the staff of Blantyre planned and worked toward fully winterizing Blantyre. In May 2005, Blantyre opened its doors for the first time in 25 years as a year-round operation, with The Retreat, Blantyre’s cozy and intimate spa.

After Fitzpatrick Brown’s passing in 2016, the property was purchased by Linda Law, a veteran real estate investor, who discovered the Berkshires as a student and had Blantyre on her bucket list for more than three decades. Ms. Law decided that the beloved Manor deserved a twenty-first-century upgrade, with a bow to the old and a nod to the new, bringing this Berkshires getaway resort into a new age of Gilded Grandeur.