Abbotsford is a historic house in the region of Scottish Borders in the
south of Scotland, near Melrose, on south bank of
the River Tweed. It was formerly the residence of
novelist Walter Scott.
The nucleus of the estate was a small farm of 100
acres (0.4 km²), called Cartleyhole, nicknamed
Clarty (i.e., muddy) Hole, and bought by Scott on
the lapse of his lease (1811) of the neighbouring
house of Ashestiel. He at first built a small villa
(now the western end of the house) and named it
Abbotsford, creating the name from a ford near by
where previously abbots of Melrose Abbey used to
cross the river. Scott then built additions to the
house and made it into a mansion, building into
the walls
many sculptured stones from ruined castles and abbeys
of Scotland. In it he gathered a large library,
and a collection of ancient furniture,
arms and armour, and other relics and curiosities,
especially connected with Scottish history.
The last and
principal acquisition being that of Toftfield (afterwards
named Huntlyburn), purchased in 1817. The new house
was then begun and completed in 1824.
The general ground-plan is a parallelogram, with
irregular outlines, one side overlooking the Tweed;
and the style is mainly the Scottish Baronial. Into
various parts of the fabric were built relics and
curiosities from historical structures,
such as the doorway of the old Tolbooth in Edinburgh.
Scott had
only enjoyed his residence one year when (1825) he
met with that reverse of fortune which involved the
estate in debt. In 1830 the library and museum were
presented to him as a free gift by the creditors.
The property was wholly disencumbered in 1847 by Robert
Cadell, the publisher, who cancelled the bond upon
it in exchange for the family's share in the copyright
of Sir Walter's works.
Abbotsford
House (north elevation)
Scott's only
son Walter did not live to enjoy the property, having
died on his way from India in 1847. Among subsequent
possessors were Scott's son-in-law, J. G. Lockhart,
J. R. Hope Scott, Q.C., and his daughter (Scott's
great-granddaughter), the Hon. Mrs Maxwell Scott.
Abbotsford
gave its name to the "Abbotsford Club,"
a successor of the Bannatyne and Maitland clubs, founded
by W. B. D. D. Turnbull in 1834 in Scott's honour,
for printing and publishing historical works connected
with his writings. Its publications extended from
1835 to 1864.
The house continued to be occupied by Scott's descendents
for several generations, and was opened to the public
in recent times. However in 2005 it was announced
that following the death of Jean Maxwell-Scott,
the great, great, great grand-daughter of the writer
and his last direct descendent the previous year,
there was no family member willing to live at Abbotsford.
Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland
are attempting to secure the house's
future.
