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Old Linthill


Old Linthill is a tower house dating back to the first half of the 17th century.

Originally known as Linthill or Linthill House, but later renamed to distinguish it from the newer farm to the west, Old Linthill was built on an L-plan. The main wing runs approximately south-west to north-east and consists of three stories plus an attic within a steep roof.

Projecting approximately to the north-west from the north end of the larger wing is a shorter wing, also three storeys and an attic in height.

Within the re-entrant angle is a square stair tower, rising a storey higher than the wings between which it nestles, with the original entrance via a doorway at ground level.

At some point in history the main entrance was moved to the centre of the long south wall, at first floor level and reached via a short flight of stone steps.

Exactly when Linthill was built is unclear, however there is a mention of a William Home of Linthill in the Records of Parliament from 1643, and certainly the first half of the 17th century matches well with the style of the tower house.

Linthill has long been associated with the Hume or Home family. Following the marriage of Reverend Ninian Hume of Billie and Margaret Hume, daughter of Sir George Hume of Wedderburn in 1726, they made Linthill their home. They had nine children together and were served by a butler, Norman Ross.

Following Ninian’s death in 1744, Lady Billie, as Margaret Hume was known, continued to live at Linthill, and continued to be served by Norman Ross. Lady Billie travelled around the estate, personally collecting rents from the tenants, and kept the money in a locked box under her bed, with the bedroom door secured with a strong lock.

On the 12th of August 1751, Ross hid in Lady Billie’s bedroom, and under the cover of darkness attempted to silently retrieve the keys to the box. However Lady Billie awoke, and in the ensuing struggle Ross killed her with a knife.

Ross escaped by jumping from a window, breaking his leg in the process, and following a manhunt he was captured and sent to Edinburgh for trial, where he was found guilty on the 18th of November 1751. His execution is notable for being the last to occur under the Old Scots Criminal Code, where the guilty party’s right hand was cut off prior to hanging.

One of Ninian and Margaret’s children, Patrick, inherited Linthill, but following a Grand Tour in Europe apparently thought Linthill to be too basic accommodation for a European gentleman, and set about building himself Paxton House as somewhere more fitting. However he seems to have lost interest in Paxton House, and in 1766 he inherited Wedderburn Castle, and switched his attention to there.

Today Linthill is still owned by the Homes of Wedderburn, and is now rented out as self-catering holiday accommodation.

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Alternative names for Old Linthill

Linthill House

Where is Old Linthill?

Old Linthill is in the parish of Eyemouth and the county of Berwickshire.

Grid reference:NT 93752 62734

Lat / long:55.857755,-2.1013829

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OS Map for Old Linthill

OS map 346
Berwick-upon-Tweed (Eyemouth, Duns, St Abb’s Head & Cockburnspath)
OS Explorer map 346


Directions to Old Linthill

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Weather at Old Linthill

1°C
max 1°C / min 1°C
14km/h SW
1032mb
85%
97%
08:12 16:29

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Eyemouth at 08:44

References (books)

Children Of The Sea
Peter Aitchison
Edinburgh, 2001
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015
The Fortified House in Scotland - Volume I
Nigel Tranter
Edinburgh, 1962

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Old Linthill

Netherbyres (site of)

0.9km away

Huildie's Tower (site of)

1.3km away

Ayton Castle

1.6km away

Wall Tower (site of)

1.6km away

Gunsgreen (site of)

1.9km away

Peelwalls (site of)

3.2km away

Bastleridge (site of)

3.7km away

Prenderguest (site of)

3.7km away

Langton Tower (site of)

3.9km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Old Linthill

Aytonlaw fort

3.2km away

Castle Dikes fort

3.3km away

The Chesters fort

14.4km away

Broomhouse Mains souterrain

14.5km away

Edin's Hall broch and fort

16.6km away

Duns Law fort

17.2km away

Cockburn Law fort

17.4km away

Broxmouth (site of) fort

27.8km away

The Chesters fort

29.9km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Old Linthill

The Coves, Caiplie Class I symbols

54.8km away

Crail Class III cross-slab

55.7km away

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

58.2km away

Abercrombie 2 Class III cross slab

58.2km away

Abercrombie 3 Class III cross slab

58.2km away

Abercrombie 4 Class III cross slab

58.2km away

Largo Class II cross slab

65.6km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

67.7km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

68.5km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Old Linthill

Hoardweel silver chain

15.1km away

Traprain Law silver chain

37.4km away

Haddington silver chain

43.5km away

Whitlaw silver chain

46.2km away

Norrie's Law hoard

69.2km away

Borland silver chain

88.7km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

91.1km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

119.7km away

Dunnicaer fort

121.9km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Old Linthill

Old Linthill
self-cateringEyemouth
0.0km away
SlowSheep@theLazyFox
bed and breakfastFoulden
7.6km away
The Craw Inn
hotelReston
8.7km away
Allanton Inn
hotel, bar, restaurantDuns
11.0km away
Groom's Cottage, Wedderburn Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
16.3km away
Keeper's Cottage, Wedderburn Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
16.3km away
West Lodge, Wedderburn Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
17.0km away
Garden Cottage, Wedderburn Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
17.0km away
Bank House, Duns
self-catering apartmentDuns
17.5km away
Pavilion Lodge, Duns Castle
self-catering cottageDuns
17.7km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Old Linthill

Allanton Inn
hotel, bar, restaurantDuns
11.0km away
Castle Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantColdstream
24.9km away
Hirsel Cottage Tea Room
caféColdstream
25.0km away
The Courtyard Restaurant, Floors Castle
café, restaurantKelso
35.9km away
The Terrace Café, Floors Castle
caféKelso
36.4km away
Smeaton Nursery Gardens & Tearoom
caféEast Linton
37.8km away
Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNorth Berwick
45.8km away
George & Abbotsford Hotel
hotel, barMelrose
48.3km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
50.3km away
Gosford Bothy Farm Shop
caféAberlady
50.7km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 12th of November 2011 at 4:50 pm. Updated on the 2nd of May 2016 at 6:46 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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