Lottery cash means Walter Scott's beloved Abbotsford will get £10m facelift

WORK to transform the home of one of Scotland's most celebrated writers will get under way next year thanks to a £4.85 million National Lottery grant.

A complete restoration of Sir Walter Scott's Borders bolthole at Abbotsford, near Melrose, and the creation of a new visitor centre in its grounds have been backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The project — spearheaded by a trust set up four years ago to take over the running of the 19th century baronial mansion — has now raised 9m towards a 10m fundraising target, after previous backing was secured from the Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council.

The future of Abbotsford House, which is home to a huge archive of Scott's work and literary collection, was thrown into doubt when the last of his descendants, Dame Jean Maxwell-Stuart, died in 2004.

The overhaul of Abbotsford will see full repair and restoration of the property, the creation of new self-catering accommodation and new conservation and interpretation facilities.

Security measures and environmental conditions are being introduced to safeguard the long-term future of the collections at Abbotsford, which has changed little since it first opened to the public in 1833, just five months after the writer's death.

The visitor centre will chart the changing face of the estate, which had only a cottage and a farm steading when Scott — famed for novels such as Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Waverley and Heart of Midlothian — bought it in 1811.

The complex, to be built in a woodland area around 500 metres away from the main property, will also house a shop, caf and reception area for visiting groups and school parties.

Although Scott was born in Edinburgh, Abbotsford was his most prized possession.

The mansion, which took the writer some six years to build, is home to a vast collection of historic relics, weapons and armour which belonged to the likes of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Rob Roy MacGregor.

After Scott's death, Abbotsford was cared for by his family until the death of his great-great-great granddaughter six years ago.

Lord Sanderson, chairman of the Abbotsford Trust. said: "Our plans for Abbotsford aim to create a legacy for one of Scotland's most important sons and through this, create a financially viable, world-class visitor attraction that will bring lasting economic and cultural benefit.

"This announcement means that we can start to put our plans into action and create a world-class visitor experience."

Fundraising from private donors, trusts and sponsors is expected to continue throughout this year to make up the 1m gap. A fresh campaign will be launched during the refurbishment to create a 3m endowment fund to ensure the trust will not be dependant on any future public funding.

Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: "Sir Walter Scott is recognised as the man who re-invented our Scottish national identity, then presented it to the world through his literature. Through this project, Abbotsford can once again take its place on the world's stage."

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, who is also MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, added: "Sir Walter Scott was the first English language writer to have an international career during his own lifetime."

Biography

SIR Walter Scott was born in a cramped third-floor flat in College Wynd, in Edinburgh's Old Town, in 1771. The son of a solicitor, he survived a bout of polio two years later that left him lame.

His interest in the Borders dates back to when he was sent to recover from the illness at Sandyknowe Farm, in Roxburghshire, which belonged to his grandfather.

Here he was taught to read by his Aunt Jenny, and learned from her the speech patterns and tales and legends that characterise much of his work.

Although he returned to the city in 1779, he would divide his time between Edinburgh and the Borders for the rest of his life.

He died at Abbotsford on 21 September, 1832.