250th anniversary of one of its most famous sons, Sir Walter Scott

Abbotsford, home of Sir Walter Scott

"In 2021-22 Scotland celebrates the 250th anniversary of one of its most famous sons, Sir Walter Scott

Nobody has done more to give a nation a sense of itself. Through the mines of his imagination and the magic of his pen, he celebrated the history and landscapes of Scotland in a string of best-selling books that dominated the 19th century.

Scott’s legacy can still be experienced in the most extraordinary and unexpected places across Scotland, from castles to cashmere mills and from mountain tops to moments of mindfulness. Meet the real man behind the monument, whose imagination, integrity and patriotism shaped the Scotland of today."

Now launched the Walter Scott 250 website is now operational.

Scott Clan Gathering 2014 - Scotland

River Tweed at Abbotsford House

It was very special to return to Scotland in June and attend a gathering of Scott Clan which was held between Bowhill House, the Borders home to the Chief of Clan Scott, Duke Richard Scott and Abbotsford House, historic home of Sir Walter Scott.

Desk and Study Where Sir Walter Scott Did Much of His Writing.

Abbotsford Historic Home of Sir Walter Scott

Abbotsford being newly restored with the addition of an interpretative centre and the conversion of a family wing into accommodation has put the operation on the tourist radar once again as a top literary mecca and now, a wedding venue.

Hope Scott Wing

The accommodation wing was added to the historic house by Sir Walter's granddaughter, and is now called the Hope Scott Wing.


It was a very special opportunity to stay in the Hope Scott Wing, along with other members of Clan Scott Society.

The Sir Walter Scott room at Bowhill House

Bowhill House

Events included two days of touring Scott Country in the Scottish Borders, with knowledgeable guides and special events and dinners hosted at both Bowhill and Abbotsford.

Tours of both houses - real treasure houses - set in the countryside, remains a major highlight.

With Scotts in attendance from around the world, it was a reminder how Scotland remains an important ancestral connection for many Scottish families no matter how many generations ago their ancestors left to pursue new opportunities in distant lands.

To be warmly welcomed back to an area that remains so rich in ancestral area for Scotts was much appreciated.

Bowhill House

Turner work donated to Walter Scott’s Abbotsford home

As published by BBC News

Two works by JMW Turner, painted during a visit to Sir Walter Scott's home in the Scottish Borders, are being donated to the property.

The postcard-sized watercolours, which feature Abbotsford and Newark Tower in Yarrow, were painted when the artist visited Scott at Abbotsford in 1831.

They were used to illustrate The Poetical Works of Scott in 1833.

A series of additional drawings by Turner are also thought to be beneath the mounts.

The paintings are being donated to The Abbotsford Trust and are due to go on display at the property in 2013.

They are being handed over by current owner Phoebe Barrow, who inherited them from her grandfather John Edward Allen.

The deal, made possible thanks to the Art Fund, is part of plans for a £13m redevelopment of Abbotsford, which will include the construction of a new visitor centre and the refurbishment of the house itself.

Lord Sanderson, chairman of the trust said: "We are obviously delighted that two such significant works have been donated to the trust and are extremely grateful to the Barrow family for this magnificent gift.

"The paintings have close links with Scott and the home that he loved so much, and also illustrate the links between two of the most important cultural figures in our history."

Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund added: "These atmospheric watercolours capture the beauty of Abbotsford and echo the mystery and romance of Sit Walter Scott's writing.

"We're delighted to have helped facilitate Mrs Barrow's generous gift, which allows future generations to admire these precious works and appreciate their significance to this historic house."

Sir Walter Scott's stolen Waterloo souvenir returned

The quaich was one of several items stolen from Abbotsford House in the 1990s. Picture by Paul Dodds

A stolen souvenir from the Battle of Waterloo has been returned to the Borders home of Sir Walter Scott.

The silver bowl, known as a quaich, was taken from Abbotsford House near Melrose in 1994.

However, it was spotted late last year in a French antiques market by silver expert Wynyard Wilkinson who identified it and arranged for its return.

The Waterloo Tree Quaich, one of many historic relics collected by Scott, will go on public display this weekend.

The piece is made from silver gilt and elm wood that was cut from a tree at the Waterloo battlefield.

Scott collected a fascinating array of objects during his lifetime Jacquie Wright Abbotsford Trust

The Duke of Wellington directed his troops from a position under the tree in 1815 and it subsequently became a target for souvenir hunters.

The timbers were used to make a number of prestigious pieces including Chippendale chairs for the Prince Regent in 1821, and a chair for the Duke of Wellington, which was presented to him in 1837.

The quaich dates from 1824 and was made by Joseph Angell of London.

It is engraved with Scott's motto, "Watch Well".

'Hugely grateful'

The quaich was one of a number of items stolen from Abbotsford when it was owned by his descendants, Dame Jean and Mrs Patricia Maxwell Scott.

Jacquie Wright, executive manager of the Abbotsford Trust, said it was "hugely grateful" to Mr Winyard for spotting and returning it.

"Scott collected a fascinating array of objects during his lifetime and we're delighted that the Waterloo Tree Quaich is back in the collection and can be seen and enjoyed by our visitors," she said.

The trust is currently trying to raise about £10m to secure the future of Scott's Borders home.

It is awaiting a decision from the Heritage Lottery Fund about a grant application for more than £4m and is also consulting with the public about its proposed plans for the attraction.

'This is probably the single most important planning application in the history of Galashiels

As published by Border Telegraph Thursday, 18th February, 2010
by Ally McGilvray


FEARS have been voiced that a supermarket could be built next to the historic home of Sir Walter Scott - if plans for a new visitor centre on a neighbouring site are approved.

Drew Tulley, former leader of Scottish Borders Council, spoke out at a meeting of Galashiels and Langlee Community Council after members were shown plans to develop Abbotsford House, near Galashiels, into a world-class tourist attraction.

He pointed out a number of planning applications for the site earmarked for the visitor centre car park had been rejected to protect the area from overdevelopment.

The former planning convener revealed that before the first house was built in Tweedbank it was agreed there would be no building in the field between the village and the A-listing building.

Speaking from the public gallery, MrTulley said: "I am a great supporter of Abbotsford but my fear is if these plans are approved it could open the way for commercial development in that field.

"We could of had a supermarket or non-food outlet there already had we not turned them down because there has been a lot of interest shown in that field in the past, and any development would weaken the case for future planning applications on what has been green belt land up until now."

The Abbotsford Trust argued it proposed to build the car park within a line of trees bordering the field and the Border Abbeys Way and revealed Scottish Borders Council and Historic Scotland were supportive of their plans.

Last month, the Border Telegraph revealed it has applied to Scottish Borders Council for planning permission to build a new visitor centre and cafe within the grounds, upgrade the main building and create a new large car park on adjacent farmland.

It also wants to create self-catering visitor accommodation in the Hope Scott Wing to cater for up to 12 people, as well as new interpretation facilties to conserve the collections inside - and a playpark inspired by characters from Sir Walter Scott's books.

The Trust has already secured much of the £10million required to upgrade the 200 baronial mansion with grants from various public bodies.

However, it has warned if it doesn't win enough support for the plans, Abbotsford - which is already losing £100,000 a year - will be forced to close within three years.

Tony Taylor, from The Abbotsford Trust, said: "This is an exceptionally important project which aims to create a legacy for one of the region's most important sons and through this, to help to attract more visitors to the area.

"It's an enterprise in which all Borders residents have a stake so we want to get as much feedback as possible before putting our final plans forward to Scottish Borders Council.

"Abbotsford needs to develop into a financially viable, world-class visitor attraction which is why these plans are so important.

"Visitor requirements are changing and there is immense competition from other regions so we need to create something very special that will make Abbotsford and Sir Walter Scott relevant to today's audiences and encourage as many people as possible to come here.

"In Scott and Abbotsford, we have a globally famous asset here in the Borders and we believe it's time to capitalise on that and establish Abbotsford as a heritage tourism focal point for the region from which we can all benefit."

But he added: "The support of the Borders public is crucial and we look forward to hearing their views."

Pre-planning consultations are underway with Community Councils in Selkirk, Melrose, Tweedbank and Galashiels in advance of an eventual planning submission to Scottish Borders Council. A larger public consultation event is also being planned for the coming weeks.

The consultations will inform those attending about the overall aims of the project and how it has progressed to date and will give them the chance to comment about the outline plans that have been developed for the house, visitor access and parking and a new visitor reception building.

All plans for the development of Abbotsford will depend on the Trust raising the necessary funds to take them forward. Fundraising efforts are currently underway and a final application for grant of over £4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund will be submitted later this month with a decision expected in May.

However, if the plans are approved and all funds raised, work could start on building the new visitor centre in September 2010 and be open in June 2011 and the project be completed by 2013.

Following a presentation on the plans at Galashiels and Langlee Community Council last week, community councillor Peter Roden said: "This is probably the single most important planning application in the history of Galashiels."

And community councillor Murray Dickson, President of the Old Gala Club, added: "From the historical society's point of view we fully support any development that attracts more visitors to Abbotsford and keeps the memory of Sir Walter Scott alive."

Rob Roy and Ivanhoe to get a modern £10m home in the Borders

As published by The Scotsman
10 February 2010

By BRIAN FERGUSON

TRUSTEES spearheading a £10 million campaign to transform the Borders home of one of Scotland's most celebrated writers have unveiled the first images of a new visitor centre to be built beside it.

The planned visitor centre at Abbotsford House, complete with café and shop, has been designed to fit in with the landscape, trustees say

They have also revealed that work is due to begin this year on a long-awaited restoration of Abbotsford, built by Sir Walter Scott near Melrose in the early 19th century.

The enduring legacy of the creator of the Waverley novels, Rob Roy and Ivanhoe will be explored in the striking new complex, to be built in a woodland area about 500 metres away from the existing baronial mansion.

The new building – which will also house a shop, café and reception area – will chart the changing face of Abbotsford estate, which had only a cottage and a farm steading when Scott arrived there in 1812.

The house was opened to the public in 1833, just five months after the writer's death, and was cared for by his direct descendants until the death of his great-great-great granddaughter in 2004.

However, it had been allowed to fall into decline and the number of visitors had slipped away due to its run-down state.

A group of trustees, headed by the Duke of Buccleuch, launched a campaign to save Abbotsford for the nation four years ago and won a pledge of £4.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund last year.

With Scottish Borders Council committing a £1.5m grant just before Christmas, the trustees announced yesterday that they were in a position to press ahead with the project later this year, subject to planning approval.

Historic Scotland has also been asked to support the project.

Community groups in the area are being given the chance to comment on the new building and the full-scale restoration and repair programme for the house over the next few weeks.

The entire project is expected to take about three years.

It will include the creation of six rooms of self-catering accommodation in the mansion, as well as new conservation and interpretation facilities and an education suite for school groups.

The visitor centre was designed by the same architects behind the restoration of Edinburgh's Festival Theatre and Usher Hall.

Trustee Tony Taylor said: "The site of the new building is a fair bit away from the house, in an area of woodland in the estate, and it has been very carefully designed to fit in with the landscape.

"It should make a huge difference to our understanding of Scott and his work.

"We don't yet know whether work will start first on the new building or the restoration but we're hoping to plan the work to ensure that Abbotsford remains open as normal every year from March to October."

David Parker, leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: "Our vision is for Abbotsford to be a world-class heritage centre and tourism attraction for the Borders.

"Abbotsford has been an underused asset for the area for a long time now, and this project should make a huge difference to our understanding of the life and work of Sir Walter Scott."