TIMES must be hard when the toffs, tweeds, and tickety boo brigade start pleading poverty, writes Chris Holme.

It was not quite like that when the delegates from the Union of European Historic Houses Associations sat down for their annual meeting in Edinburgh yesterday.

But the setting was a bit of a giveaway. Prestonfield House Hotel exudes the same kind of gently fading elegance as befits an organisation representing the 20,000 private owners of the finest castles and houses in Europe.

The two-day bash has been organised by the Historic Houses Association which is anxious to dispel the old stately home image.

HHA president William Proby said Brideshead is no more: ''The days of hundreds of servants in livery waiting hand and foot are long gone. That's a very old stereotype. It's much more like running a business now. There is a new generation of owners who question a lot of the practices of the past.''

There are 42 stately homes in Scotland open regularly to the public - more than the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland put together - bringing in tourists and 1000 jobs.

The basic problem was upkeep: around #100,000 a year for the average sized stately home. Mr Proby said he had no problem with access in exchange for support and he was not after pity.

''That is the last thing I would want. What we are saying is that we are doing a job which benefits everybody, including ourselves, and it is cost effective. But we need a bit of help.''

Mr Proby and his colleagues have been talking to Government.

''We have had some very constructive meetings with them. They are putting forward the idea of partnership,'' he said.