DiCamillo Companion
Scotland

Marchmont House (Redbraes Castle)

  • 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.

  • Architect: William Burn

    Date: 1834-42
    Designed: Alterations for Sir Hugh Purves-Hume-Campbell, 7th Bt.

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    Architect: Thomas Gibson

    Date: 1750-54
    Designed: House for 3rd Earl of Marchmont

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    Architect: Robert Stodart Lorimer

    Date: 1913-16
    Designed: Additions and alterations (including fittings) for Robert Finnie McEwen

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

  • Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
    Author: Colvin, Howard
    Year Published: 2008
    Reference: pgs. 191, 427
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
    ISBN: 9780300125085
    Book Type: Hardback

    Title: Sotheby's Auction Catalog: Easton Neston, May 17-19, 2005, Volume Two
    Author: NA
    Year Published: 2005
    Reference: pg. 315
    Publisher: London: Sotheby's
    ISBN: NA
    Book Type: Softback

    Title: Buildings of Scotland: Borders, The
    Author: Cruft, Kitty; Dunbar, John; Fawcett, Richard; et al
    Year Published: 2006
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
    ISBN: 0300107021
    Book Type: Hardback

    Title: Disintegration of a Heritage: Country Houses and their Collections, 1979-1992, The
    Author: Sayer, Michael
    Year Published: 1993
    Publisher: Norfolk: Michael Russell (Publishing)
    ISBN: 0859551970
    Book Type: Hardback

  • 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

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