Chisholme and Stirches

**cessna152towser** · 9th January 08, 10:48 AM

The entrance to Chisholme Estate from the public road, about eight miles south west of Hawick.

Viewed from the Chisholme driveway, the public road drops away down the valley of the Wood Burn, into the Borthwick Valley.

The Old Chisholme Trail. The driveway leads to Chisholme House and beyond it to serve two farms.

A burn flowing through the grounds of Chisholme estate.

A tree carving in Chisholme Estate.

Looking north towards and beyond the Borthwick Valley.

A pond at Chisholme.

Cottages at Chisholme, which may originally have been provided as accommodation for estate workers.

**cessna152towser** · 9th January 08, 10:54 AM

The walled garden at Chisholme, not at its most colourful in January.

Part of an old building which has been retained and converted as a summer house.

Heavy rain and high winds overnight had melted most of the snow, but after the rains the temperature dropped again quickly with snow showers forecast. The Blaklader kilt was well able to handle the windy conditions on my walk.

Blaklader craftsman kilt near Chisholme House

On the lawn at Chisholme House

Nowadays Chisholme House is home to the Beshara School, though it was once home to the Chisholme family.

Chisholme House from another angle

From the back of Chisholme House we can see that it is an L shaped property.

**cessna152towser** · 9th January 08, 10:59 AM

On the way home I passed by Branxholme Easter Loch.

About a mile from home, another property with Chisholme connections. Stirches House was home to the Scott-Chisholms until around a hundred years ago, and became an Augustinian Convent. Today the Sisters of St. Andrew continue to reside there and provide a care home for the elderly and infirm.

An impressive outbuilding at Stirches, possibly built originally as accommodation for the estate workers and to provide stables.

Finally, standing on Stirches Bridge, adjacent to the entrance to the convent, we see the Stirches Burn which has flowed out from under the public road and continues through the grounds of the convent.

**GMan** · 9th January 08, 11:07 AM

Wonderful shots! But I really am not surprised.

**starbkjrus** · 9th January 08, 11:15 AM

Nice shots, Alex. Thank you for posting them.

**Glen C** · 9th January 08, 11:06 AM

Alex, thanks for the photos. It looks like a very damp day. I run the clan tent at the Chicago games, and with your permission I'd like to copy the pictures to have on display.

**beloitpiper** · 9th January 08, 12:39 PM

That place is beautiful, and I'm glad you're taking the Blaklader out for some air.

**Galician** · 9th January 08, 12:48 PM

Great photos, Alex! I'm just sorry that your kilt didn't seem to me to come out as clearly as I'd like, to be able to appreciate it. Do you feel that it was a good item for that kind of weather?

Btw, are the Sisters of St. Andrew a Scottish order? Stirches looks like a lovely place to end one's days.