Ozark Ridge Rider and Big Hooses Abuin Hawick

**cessna152towser** · 23rd September 10, 02:23 PM

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.

**cessna152towser** · 23rd September 10, 02:33 PM

Drumlanrig's Tower was originally a home of the Douglas family, it was the only building not to be burned in 1570 by the invading English army led by Thomas Howard, the Earl of Surrey. Later it was converted into a fine house for Anna, Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleuch.

Drumlanrig's Tower forms part of the Hawick Heritage Hub. Immediately to the left of the original tower is the extension for the Duchess of Buccleuch which later became an inn and over on the left is the Tower Mill

We had lunch on the glass floor over the water wheel in the Tower Mill

We met some Turnbulls who were visiting the sculpture which depicts William of Rule in the act of turning the bull to save the life of King Robert the Bruce, and which had been first unveiled at the Turnbull Clan Association Gathering here in 2009.

Our next stop was Smailholm Tower, a fifteenth century Pringle stronghold which the Pringles sold to the Scotts of Harden. Sir Walter Scott was a frequent visitor here.
Getting up to this one from the road was more challenging, however............