Duns - Country Houses

Country Houses

The district surrounding Duns once had a considerable number of notable country houses. Those surviving include:

  • The Edwardian mansion Manderston House (rebuilt in 1903), the home of a Liberal Peer, Lord Palmer, just outside the burgh on the A6105 road to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
  • The early 18th century Edrom House (after architect James Smith), 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Manderston and now the home of the model Stella Tennant.
  • About a mile east of Edrom stands Blanerne Castle, an ancient seat of the Lumsden family, rebuilt by architect William Burn in 1895 following a fire. Its ruined mediaeval Pele Tower stands nearby.
  • Nisbet House (c. 1630) with its great tower (1774) is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of the town, now restored as a family home.
  • Wedderburn Castle (1771–1775, by architects Robert and James Adam) is 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Duns and is built on the site of the earlier Tower house. It is the seat of the Homes of Wedderburn.
  • Further south lies Kimmerghame House, a Scottish Baronial mansion completely rebuilt in 1851 by architect David Bryce, almost destroyed by fire in 1938 but again much rebuilt. It is now the seat of a former Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire, Major-General Sir John Swinton (father of the actress Tilda Swinton).

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