Harmony Garden, Scottish Borders

The Harmony Garden is the garden of Harmony Hall which is in the town of Melrose, in the Scottish Borders, administered by the National Trust for Scotland.

Harmony Garden and house in 2021

History

The hall was built in about 1807 by Robert Waugh who had made his money, before slavery was abolished, farming limes and pimento on a plantation in Jamaica.[1] Waugh was to claim over £3,000 for his losses when slavery was abolished in the British empire.[2] He was said to be a recluse who only went outside to go hunting.[3] He left his Scottish properties to his nieces when he died at the hall on 27 December 1832.[2]

The National Trust for Scotland received the house and gardens in 1996.[3]

Description

The high walled garden is within the town and cover 3.5 acres. The gardens are divided into different areas. The hall is at the north end facing south.[3]

The trust allows free access to visitors to the gardens while the hall is a holiday let.[3] The trust has three further properties in the Scottish Borders. Priorwood Garden is also in Melrose, whereas Robert Smail's Printing Works is in Innerleithen and the other is the St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve.

The Borders Book Festival takes place here each summer.[4] taking advantage of the large lawn.

See also

References
  1. An information board in the garden in July 2021.
  2. "Summary of Individual | Legacies of British Slavery". www.ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  3. "Harmony Garden Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland". www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  4. "Harmony Garden". NTS. Retrieved 9 June 2021.

55.5996°N 2.7200°W / 55.5996; -2.7200

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