Harmony Garden, Melrose

Harmony Gardens

Harmony Gardens is a peaceful walled garden with lawns, herbaceous and mixed borders, vegetable and fruit areas and spring bulbs, located directly opposite Melrose Abbey ruins. The historic house on the grounds is not open to the public.

History

The Georgian house at the heart of the walled garden is one of the finest town houses in Scotland and is available as a self-catering rental property by the National Trust for Scotland. The gardens cover three acres, with a kitchen garden area, wide lawns, a small orchard, and lushly planted flower beds.

A curving drive leads from an entrance gate, past colourful borders and clipped hedges, to the elegant Georgian house, built in 1807 by Robert Waugh. Waugh was a joiner by trade, a native of Melrose who went to Jamaica to make his fortune as a plantation owner. When he returned, he built the quietly refined Harmony House opposite the ruins of Melrose Abbey.

A rose after a sudden shower

Waugh befriended Sir Walter Scott, who lived at nearby Abbotsford, and gave Scott financial assistance after the cost of building his house left him almost penniless. In 1820 the house was sold to the Pitman family, who owned it until 1996. The last owner, Mrs Christian Pitman, bequeathed the property to the National Trust for Scotland so that their house and garden would be available for everyone to enjoy.

Sinuous flower beds in the garden

OUR VISIT

We had the pleasure of visiting Harmony gardens while we waited for the abbey to open. It was a delight; full of rich colour and with plenty of room for our extremely active youngsters to run around. Though small, there is plenty to keep you interested whether you are a keen gardener or just enjoy a quiet ramble in pretty surroundings or a peaceful place to relax. Lovely!