Archaeology Notes

Event ID 717875

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/717875

NT53SE 9.00 59216 33328

NT53SE 9.01 5930 3330 Gardens

NT53SE 9.02 5927 3338 Building

NT53SE 9.03 5920 3340 Kitchen Garden

NT53SE 63 59240 33308 Sundial

For Wallace's Statue see NT53SE 103

(NT 5922 3334) Bemersyde House (NR)

OS 6" map (1967)

Bemersyde consists of a lofty rectangular tower, to which lower, modern extensions have been added to W and E. The original building, which has been a fairly typical Border peel-tower, rises to five storeys and dates from the early 16th century; it was probably built in conformity with the Act of the Scots Parliament of 1535 'for bigging of strengthis on the Bordouris'.

The upper storey is a 17th century reconstruction. The walls are very massive, reaching a thickness of 10 ft. The main doorway is in the S front, and has been enlarged. Undoubtedly there would be a house on this site from very early times, for the Haigs of Bemersyde are a very ancient family, having owned the lands reputedly as early as the 12th century, and the present building may well incorporate portions of an earlier house in its foundations.

N Tranter 1962; RCAHMS 1915, visited 1912

As described above.

Visited by OS (JD) 26 May 1955.