Earlier Houses: The B-listed Old Kippenross House, which stands to the south of Kippenross House, was severely damaged in a 1772 fire, which is when the planning for the current Kippenross House (sometimes called New Kippenross House) began. Old Kippenross, which today takes the form of a late 18th/early 19th century Gothick style cottage orné, has earlier foundations, including elements of a Medieval tower house.

House & Family History: Kippenross is most famous today as the birthplace and childhood home of Jean Wilhelmina Stirling (1804-59). More popularly known as Jane Stirling, she was the youngest of 13 children of John Stirling, 6th Laird of Kippendavie. Both of Jane’s parents were dead by the time she was 16, which left her in possession of a small fortune, which she used to indulge her twin passions: music and the fine arts. From the age of 22, Jane divided her time between Scotland and Paris; it was in the latter city that she met and became a student of Frédéric Chopin, a man who would become the primary focus of her life. Though never involved romantically, Jane became a dedicated friend who used her wealth to subsidize Chopin, who was in near-constant financial distress. Chopin’s Nocturnes, Op. 55, which the composer wrote between 1842 and 1844, were dedicated to Jane. And it was Jane who organized and financed Chopin’s 1848 tour of Scotland and England, where he played for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on May 15. After Chopin’s death in 1849, Jane worked diligently to preserve the famous composer’s legacy. She paid for his funeral and arranged (and paid for) the transportation of Chopin’s heart from Paris to Warsaw; she purchased many objects related to Chopin, including his grand piano, and gave them to his family; and she continued to work diligently for the rest of her life to preserve his memory. During Chopin’s last days Jane commissioned the Polish artist Teofil Kwiatkowski to produce an oil painting of Chopin on his deathbed. Entitled “Last Moments of Frédéric Chopin” (see "Images" section), the painting is today in the collection of the Fryderyk Chopin Museum in Warsaw. Because history has not given Jane the credit she deserves for preservation of all things Chopin, the Jane Stirling Project was founded in the early 21st century to recognize Jane’s work through piano performances, readings from Chopin’s letters, and poetry recitals.

House Listed: Category B

Park Listed: Listed as a Garden & Designed Landscape

Current Seat / Home of: Patrick Stirling-Aird

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Sir James Chisholm, 16th century. James Pearson, 17th century; Dean Pearson, 17th century; Hugh Pearson, 18th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: William Pearson, until 1778. John Stirling, 6th Laird of Kippendavie, 1778-1816; John Stirling, 7th Laird of Kippendavie, until 1882; Patrick Stirling, 8th Laird of Kippendavie, 1882-89; John Alexander Stirling, 9th Laird of Kippendavie, until 1957.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No