may 2020



Mellerstain Stories



With the house and gardens currently closed we've been looking at other ways to share the fascinating history and stories of Mellerstain.


Over the past few weeks, since lockdown began, we have been sharing stories from Mellerstain, pictures from the gardens and taking an in depth look at some of the items in the house. These have been shared on our Facebook and Instagram pages and we'd encourage you to have a look. Please do follow and like the pages as this will bring our future posts directly to you.


In case you don't have access to those social media channels, we've included some of the stories here for you to enjoy.


Due to the ongoing coronavirus situation Mellerstain House and Gardens and the Borders Sculpture Park is closed until further notice. We continue to monitor government advice and will share further information once reopening plans are known.





The Library
We started with a look at the beautiful ceiling in the Library, still in its original colours of 1773.


The circular painting in the centre of the ceiling is Minerva – Roman Goddess of Wisdom – flanked by smaller paintings of ‘Teaching’ and ‘Learning’, all by Antonio Zucchi. Zucchi was living in Edinburgh where he had a studio at the time. The motif Teaching features a scroll with the word Suadere, which translates as ‘To persuade or induce’. Zucchi later married artist Angelica Kauffman, a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1768.



The 7th Earl and his Red Coat…or lack of it.
Thomas, (the eldest son of Rachel and Charles Lord Binning), became the 7th Earl of Haddington in November 1735. He features in paintings throughout Mellerstain House.


With so many portraits and people adorning the walls of Mellerstain our guides have a special way of remembering who’s who. Here’s the secret for the 7th Earl, his red coat – in every portrait except one he’s wearing a red coat.


As depicted here (image 1) in a portrait with his brothers by Nasmyth in the Inner Hall. Thomas is on the right in the red coat.


In the only portrait where he’s not wearing a red coat he’s wearing a dog! You can see him as a young boy on the left of this portrait (image 2) in the Music Room.


And now you know why Thomas, the 7th Earl of Haddington in his red coat is nicknamed “Santa” by our guides at Mellerstain!



The unfinished painting
In our previous post we featured Thomas the 7th Earl of Haddington (in his red coat).


Today we’re taking a closer look at the portrait by Nasmyth of Thomas and his brothers George and Charles.


As we mentioned Thomas is on the right in the red coat. His brother George, (who changed his name to Baillie when he inherited Mellerstain) is sat on the left. It was George who, with Robert Adam, built the central block of Mellerstain House completed in 1778.


Looking closely at the painting you’ll see that the hands aren’t finished.


This is because Nasmyth painted the picture then left it unfinished for 50 years. It was after his death that paintings in his studio were put up for sale.


It was purchased by the brother of Mary Pringle who was daughter-in-law of George mentioned above. Mary Pringle’s brother recognised the men in the portrait and the family bought the painting.


Nasmyth was a very good friend of Robbie Burns and held the same left-wing views. His opinions would have put him out of favour with his aristocratic clients and when portrait commissions dried up, he painted theatrical backdrops which developed into painting landscapes, for which he is probably more famous.


And what of the brother Charles? Charles Hamilton, (1727 – 1806) was the son of Charles, Lord Binning & Lady Rachel Baillie. He became a Lieutenant – Colonel in the First Dragoon Guards and was Governor of the Blackness Castle on the Firth of Forth from 1792 to his death at Tyninghame in 1806.



The Gardens
The sun is shining and although we are closed our grounds and gardens team are working hard as always. The spring colour is coming through especially on the Top Terrace. Our gardener has been taking some lovely photos for us to share with you.


We hope you enjoy our Camellia from the middle terrace (pink), an Imperial Fritillaria (orange flowers), the view of the top terrace in the sunshine and Rembrandt Tulips (yellow and red).



Katharine Salting
We then looked at the portrait of Katharine Salting, hung in the Small Drawing Room at Mellerstain House.


Above the Small Drawing Room fireplace is a painting of Katherine Salting, (1871-1952). Painted by Fritz Grebe circa late-19th century. Katharine Salting, great grandmother of the current Earl of Haddington, was later named Lady Binning. Her husband was Lord Binning (1856-1917) who died before his father the 11th earl.


She lived in Fenton House, Hampstead and left it to the National Trust.


Katharine was the niece of George Salting who was born in Sydney, Australia, on 15 August 1835.


George owned sheep stations in Australia. Having inherited a considerable fortune when his father died in 1865 he began collecting lacquer and Oriental porcelain. Such was the extent of the accumulations in 1874 Salting started to deposit items on loan to the V & A Museum.


When he died on 12 December 1909, Salting left his vast collections to the National Gallery, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.








Mellerstain House, Gordon, Scottish Borders TD3 6LG
© 2020 The Mellerstain Trust (SC011009)


Tel: 01573 410 225


Privacy Policy
Site by Lunncreative