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Commendator's House

The Commendator’s House is a ruined 16th century fortified house built within the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey.

Dryburgh Abbey was built in the 12th century and despite being burned by the English twice in the 14th century it flourished in the 15th century. However it was finally destroyed in 1544 and 1545 by Edward Seymour, the Earl of Hertford, during the Rough Wooing, although monks apparently continued to live there until 1584 or 1600.

At the time of its destruction the commendator of the abbey was Thomas Erskine. He resigned the commendatorship in favour of his brother John, 6th Lord Erskine and 18th and 1st Earl of Mar, in 1548, who in turn passed office to his nephew, David Erskine.

It may have been he who was responsible for building a two storey fortified house within the north end of the old abbey dormitory, directly above the chapter house. This new house featured shot holes for defence, and had its entrance on the east side.

A substantial gatehouse to the south-west of the abbey, crossing the mill lade, was also built in the 16th century and may have been intended to fortify the approach to the Commendator’s House.

Another David Erskine, Lord Cardross, lived in the Commendator’s House until his death in 1671, and the estate was later sold to the Scotts of Ancrum. It later passed back to another branch of the Erskine family when David Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan, acquired the Dryburgh estate early in the 1780s and rebuilt Dryburgh Abbey House.

The Commendator’s House is now also in ruins and is almost indistinguishable from the remains of the abbey which surround it.

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Alternative names for Commendator's House

Dryburgh Abbey

Where is Commendator's House?

Commendator's House is in the parish of Mertoun and the county of Berwickshire.

Grid reference: NT 59153 31679

Lat / long: 55.577044, -2.649424

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OS Map for Commendator's House

OS map 338
Galashiels, Selkirk & Melrose (St Boswell’s & Lauder)
OS Explorer map 338


OS map 339
Kelso, Coldstream & Lower Tweed Valley
OS Explorer map 339


Directions to Commendator's House

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Weather at Commendator's House

15°C
max 15°C / min 15°C
27km/h SW
1019mb
89%
100%
03:26 20:56

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Saint Boswells at 04:02

References (books)

The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore
Wikipedia

Castles near Commendator's House

Mantle House

0.1km away

Dryburgh Abbey House

0.1km away

Lessudden Bastle (site of)

0.7km away

Lessudden House

0.8km away

Bemersyde

1.7km away

Maxton (site of)

2.6km away

Old Mertoun House

2.8km away

Gledswood

2.9km away

Eildon (possible) (site of)

3.1km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Commendator's House

Newstead (site of) souterrains

3.4km away

Eildon Hill North fort

3.8km away

Littledean fort

4.1km away

Brothers' Stones standing stone

5.1km away

Earlston standing stone

8.1km away

Torwoodlee broch and fort

14.3km away

Bow Castle broch

16.4km away

Cambridge standing stone

16.6km away

Bruntaburn Mill standing stone

18.1km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Commendator's House

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

23.3km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

53.3km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

53.3km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

54.1km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

69.8km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

69.9km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

70.0km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

70.0km away

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

72.0km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Commendator's House

Whitlaw silver chain

18.6km away

Hoardweel silver chain

34.4km away

Haddington silver chain

42.5km away

Traprain Law silver chain

43.1km away

Borland silver chain

54.9km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

57.0km away

Norrie's Law hoard

77.8km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

78.6km away

Dunnicaer fort

155.6km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Commendator's House

The Buccleuch Arms Hotel
hotelSt Boswells
0.9km away
Melrose SYHA Hostel
hostelMelrose
4.8km away
George & Abbotsford Hotel
hotel, barMelrose
5.0km away
The Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course
hotelRoxburgh
11.6km away
Huntlywood Granary
bed and breakfastEarlston
11.6km away
The Spread Eagle Hotel
hotelJedburgh
12.5km away
Larkhall Burn luxury cottages
self-catering cottagesJedburgh
12.5km away
Best Western Philipburn Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSelkirk
13.6km away
The Clovenfords Country Hotel
hotelGalashiels
14.9km away
Black Bull Hotel, Lauder
hotelLauder
17.0km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Commendator's House

George & Abbotsford Hotel
hotel, barMelrose
5.0km away
The Terrace Café, Floors Castle
caféKelso
11.7km away
Baxters Selkirk
caféSelkirk
11.9km away
The Courtyard Restaurant, Floors Castle
café, restaurantKelso
12.4km away
Selkirk Deli
caféSelkirk
12.5km away
Best Western Philipburn Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSelkirk
13.6km away
Johnstons of Elgin Eastmill Café
caféHawick
18.3km away
Hirsel Cottage Tea Room
caféColdstream
25.1km away
Castle Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantColdstream
26.1km away
Saffron
restaurantInnerleithen
26.5km 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 13th of May 2020 at 11:06 am.

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About

Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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