Mellerstain House

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Mellerstain House

Mellerstain House is a mansion near the Scottish village of Smailholm in the Council Area Scottish Borders . In 1971 the structure was included in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A. Furthermore, the stables are independently classified as Category A structures. The entire property is on the Scottish Landscaping Register . The highest rating “outstanding” was awarded in four of seven categories.

history

In 1642, the acquired from Lanarkshire originating George Baillie of Jerviswood the lands of Mellerstain. In 1700 a five-story tower house was mentioned at the site , which at the time was already in poor condition. Baillie 's grandson of the same name commissioned the Scottish architect William Adam to build a mansion in 1724 . However, only two wings were made from the original design. By 1738, various outbuildings had been completed and the essential parts of the surrounding park were laid out.

Inherited within the family, another George Baillie commissioned William Adam's son Robert to expand Mellerstain House in the 1770s. The central part of the building was built in this construction phase. By marriage, the property came into the possession of the Earls of Haddington . They resided in Tyninghame House , which they sold with the death of George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington in 1986, and moved their headquarters to Mellerstain.

description

The manor house is isolated in the middle of a spacious property around 2.5 km north of Smailholm and four kilometers northwest of Kelso . The Georgian mansion is pseudo-reinforced with a surrounding crenellated wreath. The central component that was added later shows characteristics of classical architecture. Inside, large parts of Robert Adam's elaborate design have been preserved. The reforestation of the forest areas cleared during the Second World War began in the 1950s.

stables

The stables adjoin Mellerstain House directly to the southwest. While most of the outbuildings were built in the mid-19th century, the stables date back to the 18th century. The masonry of the two-story building is made of quarry stone . A clock is set into a gable surface. It was made by John Kirkwood in 1735 and previously graced Lauder Town Hall . The gables are made as a stepped gable . A wooden pigeon tower sits on a roof . In the meantime, the stables have been converted into living spaces.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  3. ↑ a b c d Garden and Designed Landscape - entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  4. ↑ Entry on Mellerstain House  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)
  5. ^ Entry in the Gazetteer for Scotland
  6. ↑ Entry on the stables of Mellerstain House  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)

Web links

Commons : Mellerstain House  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 55 ° 38 ′ 39 "  N , 2 ° 33 ′ 41.5"  W.