Short Break at Abbotsford
So far this has been a wet and gloomy winter and with Christmas and New Year festivities behind us, we begin to long for light and colour. As well as anticipating holidays in 2007, I find myself looking back to warm, sunlit days in 2006. During a glorious July we visited Abbotsford, the home Sir Walter Scott created for himself and his family beside the River Tweed; it has been called ‘Scott’s greatest historical novel’, and the house and surroundings are steeped in his warm, attractive personality.
He was also passionate about trees, commenting ‘Planting and pruning trees I could work at from morning till night’. A visit to this fascinating house and garden requires plenty of time. |
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Born in 1771 and brought up in Edinburgh, Walter Scott suffered from polio as a child, and was sent to the Borders to stay with grandparents and aid his recovery. The illness left him with a lame right leg, but this never deterred him from leading a very active life. He often explored on horseback his beloved Border country.
Capacity for Work
After school and university he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1792. He was a sociable man of great charm, which Henry Raeburn captured in his portraits. Scott must also have had a huge capacity for work, producing novels and narrative poems which delighted the public and allowed him to create his dream beside the Tweed.
In 1814 he began his highly successful Waverley novels. He called his new home Abbotsford after the abbot of Melrose’s monks who forded the river.
The house was built in Scottish baronial style in stages between 1816 and 1823, and Scott was very involved in its design. Architect William Atkinson liked asymmetry, and different room shapes, both of which feature in the house. Scott wanted it to look ‘as if it had stood untouched for years’.
Collector
He was a great collector of Scotland’s history. Objects on display include Rob Roy’s purse, Flora Macdonald’s pocket-book, a lock of Prince Charlie’s hair, Bonnie Dundee’s pistol and Mary Queen of Scots‘ crucifix.
He also loved architectural detail. The library ceiling is copied from Roslin Chapel, and there are items from Melrose Abbey and the Auld Kirk at Dunfermline in the Entrance Hall.
Land Improver
The library and study house a huge collection of his books; his desk and chair remind one of his incredible drive in turning out so many words without the help of a word processor!
Scott originally bought a small farm and 100 acres which included a stand of Scots pines. His new house was later surrounded by policies of 1,000 acres. He transformed the bare glen and hillside with his planting of native species including oak, elm and beech.
Unusual for his time he believed that trees should complement their setting, he said they should be put in ‘precisely the place in the landscape where nature’s own hand would have placed them’. He also took a great interest in planning the garden, and built a charming orangery which still exists.
Royal Visit
In 1822 Scott stage-managed George IV’s visit to Scotland, the first time a monarch had crossed the border since Charles II. David Stewart of Garth from Drumcharry assisted his friend and the event was an enormous success. Scott certainly contributed to Scotland having a real sense of its past at a time when Europe was plagued with wars and revolution.
Bankruptcy
Two years after completion of Abbotsford, his publisher, Archibald Constable went bankrupt. Since Scott was very involved financially in the firm, this affected him badly, and he wrote frenetically to try and re-establish his finances. It is thought this shortened his life. He died in 1832 in the dining-room at Abbotsford, at the age of 61. He is buried in the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey beside his wife.
Restoration
After his death the property remained in the family, who extended and cherished both house and policies. In 2004 his last direct descendant, Dame Jean Maxwell Scott died, having entrusted the restoration of the garden to a friend.
The glorious herbaceous borders leading to the orangery were ablaze in July with perennials and some annuals. Walter Scott would have had more of the latter, but help was available then!
Concern about the property’s future has resulted in interest from The National Trust for Scotland, but they need money.
Choose a sunny day this coming season and visit this monument to a great personality who helped promote Scotland’s national characteristics. Visitors feel very involved as they wander round Abbotsford, and walking through the policies and beside the Tweed will also provide lasting impressions.
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