Abbotsford House

The project involved the multi-million pound conservation and refurbishment of author Sir Walter Scott's former home together with a new visitor centre. Works to the listed house included the careful restoration of the external envelope fabric with extensive stonework and roof repairs.

Internally the historic apartments have been sensitively refurbished to provide modern day facilities for public access in a sympathetic way, maintaining the integrity of the original construction and finishes.

The new visitor centre comprises a two-storey concrete and laminated timber framed building with a green roof, which is now home to a restaurant, gift shop and exhibition on the life and legacy of the author. Scott, whose novels include Waverley, Rob Roy and Ivanhoe, wrote many of his works in the study at Abbotsford and treasures on display include Rob Roy's broadsword, dirk, sporran and gun, a blotter owned by Napoleon containing a lock of his hair and a silver urn gifted to the writer by Lord Byron.