Abbotsford, the marvellous home of Sir Walter Scott...

(This is more picture heavy than writing, so please don't feel as if you have to read it all, the information is here for those that enjoy history and the learning side of things)

I've wanted to go to Abbotsford for a very long time...though it had been closed due to heavy refurbishments, but finally it opened once again (with the Queen there and all) & I just had to see it for myself. It was a lengthy car drive with 2 children getting car sick, but we made it. And as soon as I seen the house through the trees, I felt as though I would fly the rest of the way. Walter Scott was the foremost literary figure of his day. He was born in 1771, and by the time of his death in 1832 had outlived all the great romanticists except Coleridge and Wordsworth, he is better know than any of them. Scott was the first English-language author to really have an international career in his lifetime, with many readers in Europe, Australia and North America. His novels and poetry are still read and many of his works remain classics including, 'Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of The Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor'.  The Waverly Novels, as the 26 novels were named, were the world's first real historical novels and the world's best sellers. They paved the way for the great popular novels of the Victorian age and influenced Pushkin and Tolstoy as well as George Eliot & Dickens. This earned him the money to buy land, plants the trees and build his Abbotsford.

Scott inspired more operas than any other writer except Shakespeare. He became friends with great men such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Lawrence, Turner, Humphrey Davy. When the financial crash of 1826 and the subsequent fall of many companies, Scott's publisher and partner became liable for debts amounting to £20m in today's terms. Although Scott's own liabilities were modest, he elected to pay off the entire debt on his own and stated that 'my own right hand shall do it' and for the remaining years of his life he devoted himself to the self-imposed task. He couldn't ever lose his home, he loved it too much.

Abbotsford is the exclusive creation of Scott. It's his 'Conundrum Castle', where he created a world of Scotland that was in some ways more romantic, but also higher, more honourable, noble, than it had been in the past. And in doing this he raised it's reputation around the world. Abbotsford until 2004 was under the care of the Maxwell Scott family & in 2007 was passed into the care of The Abbotsford Trust, a charity that safeguards the future of the estate and the legacy of Sir Walter Scott. 

This place stole my heart in seconds, I was amazed by it's beauty and it felt at times he was still there smiling at everyone's excitement at viewing his home. It's wonderful that he will always be remembered & adored for his talents and imaginations for generations to come. If you're ever in Scotland, I urge you to go and see it for yourself & hope you will love it as much as I do. In the next post, I will take you into his beloved gardens, I hope you enjoyed this & it wasn't too much (sorry if it was).

Have a wonderful Monday dolls,

xoxoxoxoxox

Abbotsford website / Facebook / Twitter

...The guest books as you can see above and below...signed by some more greats...above, Oscar Wilde, and below Charles Dickens & his wife.

...Above, some of Sir Walter Scott's clothes, hat, gloves, shoes, jacket....and if you look even closer, you will see our reflections ;)

...The grand hallway entrance, created from an impressive baronial fantasy. You'll find at the eastern part of the hallway he's placed two of only a few examples in Scotland of full suits of armour, one being tilt armour from 1580. Found at the west end, Scott has displayed his spoils collected from the field of Waterloo, including two highly prized French cuirasses.

...Along the hallway, now displayed are the clothes worn by Scott in his last portrait, a clock that belonged to Marie Antoinette and a myriad of other items relating to Napoleonic France and medieval Scotland. The walls are clad in oak panelling from the Auld Kirk of Dunfermiline and the arms of the Border families are painted around the cornice.The arms of Scott's ancestors are on a shield running down the center of the roof.

...The Study (above & below) is maybe the most personal of all the rooms, as this as where all of Scott's beautiful works were written. It houses 2,000 rare books. Books he used in helping him write up until his death. Scott's original writing desk and chair are still in situ along with the 'Robroyston chair', which was made of wood from the house in which William Wallace was betrayed and captured. The room also currently houses Scott's death mask.

...On to the library (my second favourite room) which holds over 7,000 volumes, it remains as it was when Sir Walter Scott arranged the books on the shelves. He was a very avid book collector since childhood. The library includes exceptional collections of printed works and manuscripts on witchcraft and folklore, Scottish history, travel and exploration, literature and law, written in some seventeen different languages. Many of these books have been used as 'working tools' for his own writing and are annotated by him; others were gifts sent by admiring authors and publishers from Europe, America and even Australia. I think this shows greatly how much he was appreciated and admired.

...Now, we enter my favourite room of all! The Chinese Drawing Room. I think my heart skipped a thousand beats upon entering in to gaze at it's divine beauty. The walls are hung with the original 18th century Chinese painted paper. It was a present to Scott from his cousin who worked for the East India Company (can I have a job or a cousin like this!?!). In the center of the ceiling, painted to look like clouds, hangs an exquisite gas lustre designed by James Milne. Abbotsford was the first home in Scotland to have gas. Which Scott installed as early as 1823.

...You will also find in this room a silver urn on display (the light wasn't good enough to snap a picture) given as a token of respect and affection from the equally amazing Lord Byron (Miss. Meadows...thought of you here). He was a great fan and also became a close personal friend. You will also see a portrait painted of Scott by Sir Henry Raeburn, painted in 1819. It shows a young Scott with his much loved dogs Camp & Percy.

...Walking on, you will pass through the Armoury & Ante-room, Scott was passionate about this room, it houses an extraordinary collection, all of which is laid out exactly the same as it was in 1818. On the west wall, you will find guns and swords including Scott's own blunderbuss and personal pistols as well as Rob Roy's broadsword, dirk and sporran purse. The keys of Lochlevan Castle are also found here, they were thrown into the loch after Mary Queen of Scots' escape.  The painted stained glass was specifically designed for Abbotsford & is the work of Daniel Terry's wife. The glass designs shows Scott's armorial bearings.  

...Alas we have made our way to the dining room. This room's ceiling ribs have now been painted, it was originally grained to look as though it was carved from solid oak. This was one of Scott's favourite rooms and he spent much time here looking out onto the River Tweed. In 1832 he was taken ill and asked that his bed be moved into this room so that he could continue to enjoy his favourite view. He passed away in this room on the 21st of September. 

♥

{All photos taken by me, Kizzy H. Do not even think of swiping my photos without permission, thank you. The history part was helped by the Abbotsford website & books}