Mellerstain 1) Please COPY the ENTIRE FORM below and paste it into an email to start 2) UPDATE your information carefully. We check it, but might not notice any errors, etc. 3) Prefix the SECTION HEADERS with: *** - Example: ***Opening Days: (new info) 4) email the ENTIRE FORM UPDATED back to us ASAP: wd (at) armchair-travel (dot) com **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Garden Name: Mellerstain Last Modified (we set this): 20-01-2011 Garden ID (we set this): 0457 pic (we set this): 0457_Mellerstain.jpg NOTE: If "missing", then please send us a picture for which is at least 1000 x 1000 pixels in size. Thanks! Garden Owner: The Earl of Haddington Address: Gordon Scottish Borders Postcode: TD3 6LG County: Scotland Country: tel: 01573 410225 fax: 01573 410636 website: www.mellerstain.com public email: enquiries //at// mellerstain.com admin / private email: (add here for GG-only usage) group master website: English Heritage Grade (I, II, II*): Opening Days & Times: NOTE for 2013: Please check with garden owners or their website to confirm current dates open http://www.mellerstain.com Special Snowdrop Festival Opening27th Feb, & 6th Mar: Snowdrop Days. 11.30am - 3.30pmEaster 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. Parties / Coaches (Yes/No): Yes Parties / Coaches Comments: Viewing by Appointment (Yes/No): Yes Viewing by Appointment Comments: Special guided tours outside normal visiting hours. House Open for Viewing (Yes/No): Yes House Open Comments/Dates/Times: House 12.30pm - 5pm. Last admission 4.15pm. National/Scotland Garden Scheme days (Yes/No): No NGS/SGS Comments (PLEASE include DATES and Times): Best Times of Year to Visit: July/August.October ...To see (pair by line with Best times to visit): Roses and bordersAutumn colours. Admission Prices: House & Gardens, Adult £8.50, Child £4; Accompanied children under 5yrs. freeGardens only £5, Child £2.50. Under 5 years FreeSnowdrop Days Adult £4, child £2, under 5yrs free. 12 (Yes/No only) items follow here- 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 or Comments on (Yes/No) items above: Limited access for the disabled. Special Features, Events/Dates and other comments: 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. National Collection: Garden 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. Garden 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 (name, town): The Old Thistle, Westruther Accommodation (name, town): Crosskeys, KelsoBurts, MelroseRoxburgh Hotel, Heiton Restaurants (name, town): Mount Hooly, JedburghChapters, GattonsideHoebridge, GattonsideBurts, Melrose Village/Town/Sightseeing: Kelso - 6 milesScott's ViewThirlestane CastleMelrose AbbeyFloors Castle