The Panmure estate came into the possession of the Maule family in 1224, and the remains of the medieval castle can be found near the house. Panmure was built for the George Maule, 2nd Earl of Panmure, of the second creation (1619-71) in 1666-73 to designs by John Mylne (1611-1667). The domestic offices were added by James Maule, 4th Earl of Panmure (c1658-1723) in 1694-9 to designs by Tobias Bachop (d1710). The house is illustrated in William Adam’s Vitruvius Scoticus (pls 129-31). The 4th Earl was deprived of his title and estates as punishment for his role in the 1715 Jacobite uprising, but his nephew, William Maule (1700-87), was created 1st Earl of Panmure and Forth in 1743. He was a Hanoverian supporter who undertook a military career, eventually rising to the rank of general in 1770, and he also served as MP for Forfarshire in 1735-87. In an auction of 1764 the 1st Earl re-acquired his family's estate at a cost of £49,157.18s.4d, and following this he commissioned Robert Adam to make designs for the stables, and for alterations to the west front of the house. These were not executed. Adam also made a design for a chimneypiece, which is problematically dated 1762, predating the reacquisition of Panmure. This drawing is, therefore, either incorrectly dated, was made for an alternative house, or was made in anticipation of the reacquisition of Panmure.

The 1st Earl died unmarried in 1782, and his estate was entailed to his sister's husband, George, 8th Earl of Dalhousie. The house was remodelled for Fox Maule, 2nd Baron of Panmure (1801-74) in 1852-55 to designs by David Bryce (1803-76), and was demolished in 1955. There are copies of the Soane Museum’s Panmure drawings by Adam at the National Monuments Record of Scotland.

Literature:
W. Adam, Vitruvius Scoticus: plans, elevations and sections of public buildings, noblemen's and gentlemen's houses in Scotland, 2001, pls 129-131; A.T. Bolton, The architecture of Robert and James Adam, 1922, Volume II, Index pp. 26, 83; D. King, The complete works of Robert & James Adam and unbuilt Adam, 2001, Volume II, p. 224; 'Maule, William, 1st Earl of Panmure (1700-82) of Kellie, Forfar', History of Parliament online

Frances Sands, 2012