June 2019



‘Scottish’ Heather



Introducing Tour Guide Heather Skerven


Heather joined the team at Mellerstain in 2017. It was at a meeting of the ‘Chatty Crafters’ knitting group at Heiton Village Hall near Kelso that Heather got chatting to fellow guide Gill Harrop which led to the role.



Originally a Food and Textiles teacher, Heather was born in North Yorkshire just outside Harrogate. But her love and passion for Scotland started at a young age, in fact at just 10 years old she declared to her family that ‘One day I am going to live in Scotland’. After leaving school, Heather even applied to the Cookery School at Atholl Crescent in Edinburgh but unfortunately Atholl Crescent closed that year, so Heather had to study at Ilkley College in Yorkshire for her teacher’s qualification. After a career in teaching Food and Textiles, Heather became a qualified licensee and spent several years working with chefs opening and closing failed pubs.


However, Heather did take time to enjoy as many holidays as possible in Scotland and after getting married to Dean she wanted to show him just why she loves the country so much. So, they set off on a trip which took them to Aberdeen, Orkney, Shetland, Harris and Lewis, the Uists, Inverary and Bute before heading back to Yorkshire. Heather then asked, ‘Now do you see why I love Scotland so much?’ Dean fell in love with Scotland too and this was when they both decided that they would realise their dream and move here one day. So, after early retirement they made the move to Kelso in the Scottish Borders.



Heather is very honest about the fact that she didn’t know much about Mellerstain before she got the job but that the role has provided her with the opportunity to learn so much and that if she doesn’t know something then she will find out! It is not so much the dates or art history which interest Heather, instead it is the social history and the stories of the people and their lives which fascinate her the most. Heather just loves the details and often it is the quirky questions which visitors pose that are the most interesting. These stories and little pieces of trivia bring Mellerstain to life for visitors in a memorable, fun and engaging way.

What is the poison in the manchineel tree?
How much would a Delft tile or a mahogany chair be in today’s money?
How did ladies wearing crinoline manage go to the bathroom?

But whatever someone asks, one of the team will know the answer! Heather is passionate about Mellerstain and just like Dean, loves the fact that this genuinely is a team effort.


When asked what room Heather likes the most, she says that it has to be the Small Drawing Room because she finds it the most relatable as it is the most family orientated. There are paintings of the current Earl, his parents, his grand-parents and his great grandmother with furniture and possessions which have their own story. When asked what Heather’s favourite item in the house is, without hesitation it has to be the large soup turkey tureen, and despite this being a ‘Marmite’ item which you either love or hate, it certainly appeals to Heather’s food and catering expertise.


Heather’s favourite view is the same as Dean’s except that instead of viewing the Cheviots from the Italianate Terraces, Heather loves looking across the lake from the Library on a sunny day, the view from the room reflects the light and colour just as it was originally designed by Adam to do.


The one aspect of Mellerstain which Heather would love to see being developed would be the Kitchens. With a lifetime of working in Food, Heather would relish re-discovering the stories and the equipment which made this part of the house tick throughout the centuries and bringing this back to life for visitors of today.


The Tour Guides at Mellerstain all have their own particular expertise and interests but there is no doubt that the combined talents of everyone make this a winning team.








Mellerstain House, Gordon, Scottish Borders TD3 6LG
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