Club Meeting

At the virtual meeting of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on 4th March, President Irene Brownless congratulated David Buchanan and Colin Riddell on their recent birthdays. The topic was Abbotsford House Trust. Jim McCulloch introduced speaker Tania Murray who worked for many years in Scottish tourism before joining the trust as development officer in 2013. Tania explained how Sir Walter Scott, fell in love with the Borders after being sent to live there with his grandfather to recover from polio. After the phenomenal success of his novels in the early nineteenth century, he bought and refurbished a farmhouse in Roxburghshire, but with increasing wealth, had it demolished and built Abbotsford, a huge neo-baronial mansion incorporating many styles of Scottish architecture and motifs inspired by Linlithgow Palace, Rosslyn Chapel and even the door of Edinburgh Tollbooth. Many of his most famous books were written there and the house opened to the public after his death in 1832. Abbotsford fell into decline and was turned down by Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland on the grounds of expense. The Abbottsford House Trust was founded in 2006 and immediately faced the challenge of restoring the roof and windows. Over £12 million was raised for the capital project. A visitor centre with a cafe and toilets could now be built. As well as paying for maintenance, the trust raises funds for educational and community programmes, hosting people who otherwise would have no opportunity to visit. A training programme is in operation for 18 - 24 year-olds who are unemployed or disengaged with work. The bothy can be used as a learning and gathering centre, a potting shed or a mini-cinema. Scott suffered from depression and found that the natural surroundings helped his condition. He built a herb garden and landscaped gardens at Abbotsford. Many young people help out there and folks of all ages find that walking in the grounds lifts the spirits during the Covid 19 pandemic. Volunteering is at the heart of the trust, which has won a John Muir Award. There is no government funding and the trust is not part of any other charity. Its funding relies on income from visitors, donations and various grants. Many fundraising projects are underway. For the 250th Anniversary this year, it is planned to restore the pavilion and an architect has been appointed. Tania hopes Abbottsford House will soon be permitted to open for visitors again and resume its position as a fascinating historic destination.