Built / Designed For: William Thomson

House & Family History: William Thomson was a hugely important Victorian mathematical physicist and engineer who taught natural philosophy at the University of Glasgow for 53 years. His contributions were essential in advancing the mathematical formulation of electricity, shaping the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and laying the foundation for the understanding of the relationship between matter and energy. In 1866 Thomson was knighted by Queen Victoria for his work on the transatlantic cable telegraph project; in 1892 he was ennobled as the 1st Baron Kelvin in recognition of his achievements in thermodynamics. The first scientist to be elevated to the peerage, Sir William chose his title in reference to the River Kelvin, which flows near where his laboratory at the University of Glasgow was located. While the existence of the coldest possible temperature, absolute zero, was already known, Lord Kelvin determined its correct value as approximately -273.15 degrees Celsius (-459.67 degrees Fahrenheit), which is why absolute temperatures in the International System of Units are stated in kelvin—to honor him. Lord Kelvin died at Netherhall House in 1907; such was his fame that his body was interred in Westminster Abbey close to the graves of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton. After the death of Lord Kelvin's widow in 1916, the house was inherited by his nephew, James Thomson Bottomley, who was also his business partner in the Glasgow engineering firm of Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird. After Bottomley's death in 1926 Netherhall House served as a Christian holiday home run by the Plymouth Brethren. The house was converted into a hotel later in the century, a purpose it served until 1989. Netherhall was converted into flats in 1993.

House Listed: Category B

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Sir William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, until 1907; Thomson family here until 1916. James Thomson Bottomley, 1916-26.

Current Ownership Type: Corporation

Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No