Earlier Houses: There was an earlier house, Redbraes Castle, the ruins of which are in front of the current house.

Built / Designed For: 3rd Earl of Marchmont

House & Family History: It was Alexander Hume-Campbell, 2nd Earl of Marchmont, who decided to build a new house on the site of the family's ancient castle. He commissioned Scotland's greatest early 18th century architect, William Adam Sr., to draw up plans for a grand new house that was ultimately considered too expensive and never built. It was his son, the 3rd Earl, who actually built the current house, commissioning the lesser known architect Thomas Gibson to design his new house, though Gibson was clearly inspired by the work of Adam. The Hume-Campbell family remained seated here until the early 20th century. Marchmont House was sold to Sue Ryder Care for use as a nursing home in the 1980s. In the early 21st century the house underwent went a meticulous eight-year restoration that returned it to a private home and arts center.

Collections: The contents of Marchmont House were sold at Christie's on June 5, 1984 for £314,280 (three lots of furniture from Marchmont were sold from Easton Neston by Sotheby's May 17-19, 2005). The house today is home to a collection of Scottish Colourist paintings.

Comments: Marchmont is considered to contain some of the finest Georgian and Arts & Crafts interiors in Scotland and is known for its magnificent George II plasterwork by Thomas Clayton, one of the preeminent plasterers of the 18th century.

Garden & Outbuildings: Marchmont today features an important collection of modern outdoor sculpture in the garden, including works by Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Meadows, Lynn Chadwick and Antony Gormley, Keith McCarter, David Nash, and Steve Dilworth, together with works by local artists Frippy Jameson, Charlie Poulsen, and Andrew Mackenzie. Marchmont House had a private railroad station on the North British Railway's Berwickshire Railway, which ran from Reston to Earlston. The station was closed to passengers in 1951, though the line continued to serve freight trains until 1965. The station building and platform are extant and today serve as a private home.

Country Life: LVII, 310 plan, 354 plan, 1925.

House Listed: Category A

Park Listed: Listed as a Garden & Designed Landscape

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Patrick Hume, 1st Earl of Marchmont, until 1724; Alexander Hume-Campbell, 2nd Earl of Marchmont, 1724-40; Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont, 1740-52. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont, 1752-94; Sir Hugh Purves-Hume-Campbell, 7th Bt., until 1894; Sir John Home-Purves-Hume-Campbell, 8th Bt., 1894-circa 1912. Robert Finnie McEwen, early 20th century; McEwen family here until 1984. Oliver Burge, 1988-2016: Hugo Burge, 2016-23.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use

Ownership Details: Available for private events

House Open to Public: Limited Access

Phone: 01361-866-080

Website: https://www.marchmonthouse.com/

Awards: Historic Houses/Sotheby’s Restoration Award 2018

Historic Houses Member: Yes