Mellerstain House facts for kids
Mellerstain House is a grand old country house in Scotland. It's located about 8 kilometers north of a town called Kelso, in an area known as the Borders. Today, it is the home of George Baillie-Hamilton, 14th Earl of Haddington. This amazing house is also recognized as an important historical monument.
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Building Mellerstain House
The story of Mellerstain House began with an older house or castle. This original building had a tall, five-storey tower, but by the 1700s, it was falling apart. The current Mellerstain House was built over many years, starting in 1725 and finishing in 1778.
Designing the Wings
The first parts of the house to be built were the east and west wings. These were designed by a famous architect named William Adam. He created these wings for George Baillie (who lived from 1664 to 1738) and his wife, Lady Grisell (1665–1746). Lady Grisell was the daughter of Patrick Hume, Earl of Marchmont. After the wings were finished, construction stopped for a long time.
Adding the Main House
It was another 45 years before work started again. George Baillie, a different George Baillie, then asked Robert Adam to design and build the main part of the house. Robert Adam was William Adam's son and also a very famous architect. This George Baillie was the second son of Charles, Lord Binning. He inherited the Mellerstain estate when his aunt Grisell, Lady Murray, passed away in 1759. He even changed his name from Hamilton to Baillie to show his respect for the family.
A Special Design by Robert Adam
Mellerstain House is very special because it might be the only complete building designed by Robert Adam that still stands today. Most of his other projects were additions or changes to buildings that already existed. For example, he designed a large group of terraced houses in London called the Adelphi, but most of those have been torn down. This makes Mellerstain House a very important example of Robert Adam's work.
Inside Mellerstain House
The inside of Mellerstain House is truly beautiful. It features amazing and colorful plasterwork on the walls and ceilings. Each room has its own unique charm.
Exploring the Rooms
- There is a small sitting room, which was originally used for breakfast.
- The library is a stunning room, designed in a special "double cube" shape.
- The music room was once the dining room.
- The main drawing room still has its original silk brocade wall coverings, which are very old and fancy.
- There's also a smaller drawing room, which used to be a bedroom.
- A small library was originally two dressing rooms.
The main entrance hall leads to a long hallway. From there, a staircase goes up to the bedrooms. There's also a smaller back staircase that leads to a large gallery room. This gallery runs from north to south and is a great space.
Old Wallpapers and Collections
In the bedrooms, you can see original wallpapers that were printed by hand in the 1700s and 1800s. The Great Gallery displays many interesting items, including old costumes, fans, beautiful embroideries, and historical documents.
Gardens and Parkland
Mellerstain House is surrounded by a huge park that covers about 80 hectares (that's like 200 acres!). At the back of the house, there's a formal terraced garden designed in an Italianate style. This garden has a wide, sweeping lawn that slopes down to a peaceful lake. These beautiful gardens were designed around 1910 by a landscape architect named Sir Reginald Blomfield.
