Scott Country - Kelso: The River Tweed and Abbey Ruins

Watercolour illustrations from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949).

Scott Country - Dryburgh Abbey

Dryburgh Abbey

The abbey is said to have been founded in 1150 by the White Friars. Edward II burned it in 1322, and Robert the Bruce partly restored it. Sir Walter Scott is buried in the south aisle.

Watercolour illustrations from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949).

Scott Country - Roxburgh Castle

Roxburgh Castle
Watercolour illustrations from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949).

Scott Country - Bemerside Hill

Bemerside Hill

“This Bemerside Hill is a ‘Mount of vision’ from which all the chief shrines and high places of the Scott Country can be surveyed, at least with the mind’s eye. Abbortsford itself, if not in actual view, can be mapped into the scene by direction and position Out of sight, directly under the brow of the hill, is the ancient square fortalice, with later buildings attached, and grounds stretching down towards the Tweed, where Haigs have been resident for seven centuries. They were benefactors of Melrose when Alexander III was king, and when Thomas the Rhymer was their neighbour and wellwisher, and uttered the prophecy that has so mightiliy helped its own fulfilment:

“Betyde, betyde, whate’er betyde,
Haig shall be Haig of Bemersyde.”

Sir Walter Scott was a later friend of the family, and was often a guest in the beautiful rose-garden below the mansion. A grateful nation bestowed the house and manor on the late Field-Marshal Earl Haig, who now lies at rest close by Sir Walter at Dryburgh.” The Scott Country (pp. 32, 33)

Watercolour illustrations from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949).

The Scott Country -- Branxholm Tower

Branxholm Tower

“It was from Branxholm, on the Teviot above Hawick, that another Scott of the name – generation after generation were Walters – rode forth to rescue ‘Kinmount Willie’ from prison in Carlisle. The Minstrel’s tale, in the Lay, opens at and returns again to Branxholm Ha’; it was at the Tower Inn, at Hawick, where the Duchess Anne of Buccleuch and Monmouth held her receptions, and that the greatest of all the Sir Walters parted from his guests the Wordsworths.” The Scott Country (p. 21)

Watercolour illustrations from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949).

The Scott Country -- images

Smailholm-Tower

Smailholm is a well preserved and restored border tower house dating from the 15th century. Situated on Sandyknowe Farm, it is visible for miles around. Formerly home to the Pringles of Smailholm and later the Scotts of Harden, it was well known to Sir Walter Scott who came to Sandyknowe regularly to visit his grandfather.

Watercolour illustration from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust R.I., R.B.A. (1866-1949)

The Scott Country

A series of watercolour illustrations for The Scott Country were completed by Ernest William Haslehust R.I., R.B.A. (1866-1949). Born at Walthamstow in Essex, the eldest son of William Henry Haselhust, of Lee, Kent, he studied at the Slade School. Besides his life as an artist he was a keen gardener and nature lover he had a interest in scientific instruments.

His legacy to the illustrators craft remains the hundreds of illustrations completed for the series Beautiful Scotland, Beautiful England and Beautiful Ireland. Bublished by Blackie & Son Ltd. no indication of date or any claim of copyright is made in the documents. Most were published in the 1920's. The images are considered to be stock image royalty-free for non-commercial uses only, and usage credit is requested by the website making these available to the public for download at http://www.fromoldbooks.org/

Newark Tower