Abbotsford House - Home of Sir Walter Scott, Romantic Novelist, Scottish Borders, Melrose, Scotland

Hello everyone and welcome to Abbotsford House which is about three miles from Galashiels. Abbotsford House is the home of Sir Walter Scott. Sir Walter Scott is one of Scotland's best known and most famous novelists. You can see his monument in Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh. Sir Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh in 1771 and alongside a successful legal career became one of Scotland's best known romantic novelists. He fell in love with this part of borders as a child and later purchased Cartley Hole Farm in 1811 which he expanded greatly between 1816 and 1824 to create the Abbotsford House we see today. Scott described the house as a sort of romance in architecture with lots of romantic looking turrets and stepped gabling which led to the fashion for Scott's baronial style architecture which you can see all over Scotland today. The interior is equally impressive containing everything from suits of armour, weaponry and gargoyles to fine furniture and paintings alongside a large collection of personal curiosities which he liked to show to visitors. His private study where he wrote many of his novels contains over 9,000 books all stamped with his own personal insignia. Sadly Sir Walter Scott ran into financial difficulties in 1825 when a printing press he was a partner in went bust and he was left with huge debts the equivalent of about 10 million in today's money. He refused to accept any financial help and embarked on a writing spree to try and clear his debts which contributed to poor health and his eventual death in the house surrounded by family in 1832. Sir Walter Scott's life and works are remembered throughout Scotland affectionately. Castorphan Hill Tower was built in his memory and Waverley Station in Edinburgh takes its name after his first novel. The Magnificent Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens and a monument in Glasgow's George Square commemorate his great contribution to Scottish literature and culture. Here I'm in the amazing Walled Garden which is stunningly beautiful at this time of year. The flowers, roses are just stunning and I think it's worth coming here just alone for the Walled Garden. Take care of me and my fragile heart It's yours to keep but it can break apart I'll take care of you All of your hopes hold them in my hands While we learn the rule because my love is here to stay Nothing could chase it away And you, you are the keeper I'm needing to keep all my dreams, keeper of my dreams What he built there and how he surrounded himself with interesting people and artefacts, he was such an educated man, such a polymath, interested in so many things. Abbotsford was actually the first house to have gas lighting and it really showed me that he was interested in pushing the boundaries of technology as well. But you never will Because my love is here to stay Nothing could chase it away And you, you are the keeper I'm needing you, you are the keeper I've been searching Weather the storms with me I'll be your boat on the rocky seas I'll keep the light in the dark That's a lifetime guarantee Keeper of my heart My love is here to stay Nothing could chase it away And you, you are the keeper I'm needing you, you are the keeper I'm needing