Ozark Ridge Rider and Big Hooses Abuin Hawick

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Dan, (Ozark Ridge Rider) was in town with his wife Anita who is the Missouri Commissioner for Clan Scott and they were keen to see some Scott landmarks. They had already spent a day with their clan on Bowhill Estate, which is part of the lands of the Scotts of Buccleuch so today's tour concentrated on other branches of the Scotts, with the emphasis on Scott of Harden. The Scotts of Buccleuch and Scotts of Harden are said to descend from two brothers.
First call was at Stirches House to collect Ann. Stirches House was built by the Chisholmes of that ilk in the early nineteenth century. The head of the Stirches branch of the Chisholmes inherited his maternal aunt's estate, she being a Scott of Whitehaugh and it was a condition of the inheritance that he took the name Scott Chisholme.

Next we visited the 15th century Goldielands Tower, one time home of Watty Scott of Harden who was hanged at his entrance gate.

Then it was on to Harden, the home of Lord Polwarth, Andrew Hepburne Scott of Harden. Lord and Lady Polwarth were on hand to welcome our American guests and left us free to wander around the grounds.

The south face (back) of Harden House, where there are 1680 and 1693 datestones on the oldest part of the house, which replaced an earlier fortified towerhouse.

Burnhead Tower next, a fifteenth century Elliot stronghold but now with a more recent extension and now owned by the Scott-Watsons.
More to follow shorly.