Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 23 on 14/10/2005.

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Protecting history

Charles Douglas visits Bowhill, near Selkirk, the Scottish Borders home of the Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry.

AS the owner of no less than four spectacular and historic houses, the 9th Duke of Buccleuch and 11th Duke of Queensberry, must, on occasion, become confused as to where he is.

Each year he divides his time between Boughton, known as ‘the English Versailles,’ in Northamptonshire; Drumlanrig Castle, in the rolling hills of Dumfriesshire, and Bowhill, near Selkirk.

At least he does not have to concern himself overmuch with his fourth estate, Dalkeith Palace, which was modeled on William of Orange’s palace in Holland, and is leased to the University of Wisconsin USA as a European study centre.

Now there are those who might envy his grace for his portfolio of possessions, but he remains profoundly stoical on the subject of his great inheritance.

In the final analysis, he says, he is only the lifetime custodian of his properties. All of them have, at some stage, played a pivotal role in the story of his family and therefore, the history of Britain, and he sees it as his duty to preserve them for the good of the nation. Under such circumstances, the repair and maintenance costs might be considered far from enviable.

The Scotts of Buccleuch have their origins in Galloway, but in the 13th century appeared in Yarrow, Eskdale and Liddesdale where the ruins of their fortifications at Newark, Branxholm, Hermitage and Langholm bear testimony to their presence.

However, it was one of their number, Walter Scott, who, in 1596, brought them to prominence, when he captained a daring raid.....

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By Charles Douglas

Section : Historic Houses

Page number : 16