***************************************************************** * Gardens-Guide.com * 250,000 UNIQUE VISITORS in 2011 * 2,000 garden pages viewed per day from March to September 2011 * * 1,000+ Page Views! - One-Quarter of all gardens listed on Gardens-Guide.com * were EACH viewed more than 1,000 times in 2011. * * 500+ Page Views! - HALF of all gardens listed on Gardens-Guide.com were * EACH viewed more than 500 times in 2011. * ***************************************************************** *** UPDATE FORM *** Mellerstain 1) Please COPY the entire FORM BELOW 2) Make any changes in BRIGHT RED -OR- mark changed Section Headers with: *** 3) email the ENTIRE FORM UPDATED backto us: wd (at) armchair-travel (dot) com **************************************************************** **************************************************************** **************************************************************** *** also - SEARCH ENGINE BOOSTING for both YOU and Gardens-Guide.com *** If your webmaster could place a link from your own website directly to your page on Gardens-Guide.com, this will improve it's rankings in Google and other search engines. Please use the following format and info on your own site to link to your page in Gardens-Guide.com: at Gardens-Guide.com http://www.gardens-guide.com The premiere directory of open gardens in the UK and Ireland today Ask your friends and suppliers as well to link to your page in Gardens-Guide as well. Every link we get into your page helps rankings for both of us in search engines. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Garden Name: Mellerstain Last Modified: 20-01-2011 Garden ID: 0457 pic: 0457_Mellerstain.jpg NOTE: If this says "missing", then please send us a picture for your page which is at least 1000 x 1000 pixels in size. Thanks! Owner: The Earl of Haddington Address: Gordon Scottish Borders Postcode: TD3 6LG County: Scotland tel: 01573 410225 fax: 01573 410636 website: www.mellerstain.com email: enquiries //at// mellerstain.com English Heritage Grade: Opening Times: NOTE for 2012: Please check with garden owners or their website to confirm current dates open http://www.mellerstain.com Special Snowdrop Festival Opening 27th Feb, & 6th Mar: Snowdrop Days. 11.30am - 3.30pm Easter weekend, all 4 days. 1st May - 30th Sept; Sun, Wed, & BH Mon. July & Aug; Sun, Mon, Wed, Thurs. Oct Sundays only (incl. 31st Oct); 11.30am - 5.30pm. Best Times of Year to Visit: July/August. October To see: Roses and borders Autumn colours. National Collection: National Garden Scheme days: No Comments: Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Viewing by Appointment: Yes Comments: Special guided tours outside normal visiting hours. House Open for Viewing: Yes Comments: House 12.30pm - 5pm. Last admission 4.15pm. Admission Prices: House & Gardens, Adult £8.50, Child £4; Accompanied children under 5yrs. free Gardens only £5, Child £2.50. Under 5 years Free Snowdrop Days Adult £4, child £2, under 5yrs free. Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Shop: No Plants for Sale: No Lunches: Yes Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: Yes Dogs allowed: Yes Only on Lead: Yes Events: Yes Other Facilities: Limited access for the disabled. Features: Thatched Tea Cottage with its little parterre garden. Haddington's family dog graveyard, sitting in the cool secret places and arbours among the scented flowers. Designer: Sir Reginald Blomfield Description of Garden: The gardens at Mellerstain are situated to the south of the Main House and consist mainly of five acres of terraces with, on the top terrace, a fine herbaceous border running its length, with a series of yew trees on the south side. Steps lead down to the East and West over the "Crypto Porticus" to the middle terrace which has a formal parterre on either side of the main path and a herbaceous border on the north wall. The path then leads down curved steps around the fish pond to the lower terrace and borders and thence on to the lake. The gardens command a glorious view over the lake and over to the Cheviot Hills twenty miles away. History: The Hon. George Baillie commissioned William Adam to build Mellerstain in 1725. Adam also landscaped the immediate 3,500 acres in the style of 'Capability' Brown. The landscaping included a lake in the form of a Dutch Canal with broad walks around it and classical statues at intervals. Adam built the folly "Humundas Tower" in 1727, known as Hundy Mundy, in the middle distance to carry the eye through to the Cheviot Hills. Sir Reginald Blomfield was commissioned to build the Italianate terraces in 1909 and also to rusticate and enlarge the lake. The spoil was used in the terraces. The lower terraces extending down the hill to the lake were not undertaken in the event. Local Inns: The Old Thistle, Westruther Accomodation: Crosskeys, Kelso Burts, Melrose Roxburgh Hotel, Heiton Restaurants: Mount Hooly, Jedburgh Chapters, Gattonside Hoebridge, Gattonside Burts, Melrose Village/Town/Sightseeing: Kelso - 6 miles Scott's View Thirlestane Castle Melrose Abbey Floors Castle