Group Visits to Paxton House

Paxton House, one of the finest examples of Neo-Palladian architecture in , was completed in 1763 for Patrick Home of Wedderburn, a member of one of the most important families in the , with the primary aim of impressing a Prussian lady he aspired to marry. This was sadly not to happen and Patrick never lived in the house.

Our tour of Paxton House, led by one of our trained guides, will follow the story of how the house was built and later bought by Patrick’s cousin Ninian Home in 1773. Ninian has his own rags to riches story; from a disinherited father through travels in America and the Caribbean to his fortune made in sugar and nutmeg fuelled by the slave trade.

The tour explores 14 open rooms, each restored to reflect both the Georgian and later history of the house. It will also reveal the history of our significant collections of furniture by Thomas Chippendale the Elder and Younger and William Trotter, one of the largest publically accessible collections in the world, with items returned to the locations they may have occupied in the history of the family. Paxton House is also home to Scotland’s largest private Picture Gallery with impressive paintings by artists such as Raeburn, Peploe and Redpath, lent to us by our partner The National Galleries of Scotland.

Standard tours can be booked on an exclusive basis (more than 12 visitors) or for smaller numbers (under 12 visitors) incorporated into our daily tour schedule.

With such a rich and varied history we are also able to offer specialised tours to cover the following areas –

Architecture The house was designed in the neo Palladian style by John and James Adam with later interiors by Robert Adam and is one of the finest examples of their work. This Adam firm was also responsible for Patrick’s other house at Wedderburn Castle. Art Patrick Home was a significant collector on at least two Grand Tours and purchased part of Consul Joseph Smith’s art collection on the latter’s death in Venice in 1770. The house contains significant Scottish and Continental art as well as being a partner gallery for the National Gallery of Scotland in displaying over 40 pieces from their collections.

Furniture From 1774 to 1791 Ninian Home fitted Paxton House out almost exclusively from the various firms of Thomas Chippendale the Elder and Younger. Together with items purchased by Patrick Home for Wedderburn Castle, around 120 of the remaining items form a recognised, significant national collection of such furnishings. From 1814 George Home also acquired 40 items of furniture from William Trotter, the top Scottish cabinet maker of the time, and the 30 remaining items form the largest collection of his work in the country.

All of our specialised tours are incorporated into a tour of the house and are conducted on an exclusive basis.

We are also able to offer external tours to incorporate architecture, grounds design, gardens and the operation of the recently restored waterwheel, hydram pump and horse gin – exploring water supply to a Georgian house.

Our standard tours last around 75 minutes whilst our specialist tours last around 90 minutes and can be linked to a variety of catering options either before or after your tour.

Group Organisers/Coach Drivers

The drop off and pick up point is right outside the Regency Gift Shop and admissions entrance. All our tours depart from our Ellem Club Fishing Museum which is situated adjacent to the shop.

Your driver and tour will benefit from the following:

 Discounted admission rates  Fast track entry into the house  Free entry and refreshments for the group organiser  Free entry and refreshments for the coach driver  Free entry for Blue Badge Guides  Free coach parking  Free wheelchair hire (must be pre booked)

Refreshments

Whether your group wants to grab a quick bite to eat or enjoy a more leisurely dining experience, we can cater for all tastes and budgets for our group tour bookings. Our catering team have detailed some examples below, all prices include VAT. We cater for both sit in options either in our Stables Tearoom or Hayloft Gallery or take away options to enjoy outside in our grounds and gardens or on route home.

In order to provide your tour with the best possible service we request that only one catering option is chosen per group and that between 12 noon and 2:00pm only lunch time options are selected. Similarly we generally allow around 45 minutes for group catering and we may ask for your seating to be available after this time, particularly during peak season.

 If no pre order is possible we do permit group tours visitors on a free flow basis to a maximum of 20 visitors but a table reservation must be made with the Stables Tearoom  For groups of 20 or more visitors (up to a maximum of 60) we do require a pre order and can offer our lovely Hayloft Gallery as an exclusive dining space for private use at no extra charge

We do require a pre order of your final numbers, chosen catering option and information on any dietary requirements or allergies no less than 7 days in advance of your group tour booking, please request a catering booking form should you wish to place an order, this will be invoiced separately prior to your visit and numbers cannot be changed on the day and the full charge will stand.

Food Option (Sit In) Price Per Person Tea (black or green), filter coffee & homemade shortbread £2.85 Tea (black or green), filter coffee, homemade scone served with £3.95 clotted cream & fruit jam Scottish Menu: A selection of cheese, fish, cured meats and pates £16.00 from The Borders and Scotland served with oatcakes, bread & chutney Tea (black or green), filter coffee & homemade shortbread Scottish Menu: Traditional Haggis, Neeps & Tatties £10.00 Tea (black or green), filter coffee & homemade shortbread Homemade Soup of The Day served with bread £6.20 Tea (black or green), filter coffee & homemade shortbread Sandwich Platters on a mix of white & wholemeal bread £6.60 Tea (black or green), filter coffee & homemade shortbread Homemade Soup of The Day with bread £9.60 Sandwich Platters on a mix of white & wholemeal bread Tea (black or green), filter coffee & homemade shortbread Mrs Purdie’s Pie of The Day served with chips & seasonal £12.50 vegetables Tea (black or green) or filter coffee (please select either beef, chicken or fish for the group) Cream Tea: Selection of sandwiches, lemon drizzle cake, £8.60 homemade fruit scone served with clotted cream & jam Tea (black or green) or filter coffee

Food Option (Take Away) Price Per Person Adult Picnic: Filled roll, homemade traybake, crisps, bottled £5.50 water Kids Picnic: Ham or Cheese Sandwich, crisps, apple, fruit £4.50 shoot or bottled water Tea (black or green) or filter coffee £1.50 Tea (black or green) or filter coffee & a homemade traybake £3.00

Useful Information and Local Attractions

Paxton House is only 3 miles from the A1 at Berwick Upon Tweed and equal distance from both and Newcastle. The train station at Berwick Upon Tweed is also situated on the with regular trains running between Aberdeen and .

 Berwick Upon Tweed Situated a few short miles from the Scottish border, the town of Berwick Upon Tweed has a turbulent past; captured or sacked 13 times before finally falling into English hands in 148. Berwick’s great Elizabethan walls were built to keep invading Scots from entering the town. Walk the complete circuit, taking in spectacular views across the estuary and Berwick’s 3 bridges, including the iconic Royal Border Bridge, built by Robert Stevenson and one of the finest bridges of its kind in the world. Explore Berwick's history by visiting museums in Berwick Barracks and The Main Guard. Take a tour of the town’s old courtroom, jail lockups and notorious ‘drunk’s cell’ in the upper floors of Berwick Town Hall. Artist L.S. Lowry was a regular visitor to Berwick and today you can walk in his footsteps on The Lowry Trail. Berwick has annual Film, Literary, Music, Seaside, Walking and Food & Beer Festivals to mention but a few, and The Maltings Theatre & Cinema has an excellent and varied programme of entertainment through the year.

 The Union Chain Bridge The Union Chain Bridge spans the River Tweed between Horncliffe, , and Fishwick, Borders, Scotland. It was designed by Captain (later Sir) Samuel Brown RN, who held patents for the design of the chains, although Brown altered the tower and abutments on the suggestion of John Rennie. When it opened in 1820 it was the longest wrought iron suspension bridge in the world with a span of 137 metres (449 ft), and the first vehicular bridge of its type in the United Kingdom. It cost £7,700 to construct and pre-dates the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Menai Bridge, which are of similar design. Today it continues to carry traffic and visitors can enjoy pleasant walks along the river bank, only a half hour walk from Paxton. Alexander Naysmith's depiction of Union Chain Bridge, painted before its actual completion can be viewed in the main entrance hall at Paxton House. The OS reference for the Union Chain Bridge is NT933510.

 Chain Bridge Honey Farm On the English side of the Union Chain Bridge is the Chain Bridge Honey Farm and Visitor Centre, offering a fascinating insight into the lifecycle of the honeybee. You can see the bees at work in a glass observation hive, learn all about the bee with no sting, taste delicious honey and sample some natural cosmetics. A series of exhibits explain beekeeping practice, the history and biology of honeybees, wasps and bumblebees and all about beeswax and honey. Every wall of the museum has been hand painted with stunning murals, including a panoramic scene of the entire Tweed valley. Other attractions include a unique vehicle museum and café housed in a vintage double decker bus, and of course a short walk to the Union Chain Bridge.