Sir David Milne
1763 – 1845
The Beautiful Estate of Kersfield together with the adjoining Land and Woods of Snook on the banks of the River Tweed, Berwickshire was sold in the bustling Royal Exchange Coffee House, Edinburgh on Wednesday 10th March 1819 for £35,000.
It was described as ‘a finely situated Estate with salmon fishings between the Parish of Lennel and 3 miles from Coldstream.’
The new owner was an Admiral Sir David Milne and his second wife Lady Agnes.
Grace Home
1776 – 1814
Milne Graden House
The future of the estate at Kersfield lay at the heart of Milne. His strong links with the Scottish Borders grew through his great friendship with George Home of the neighbouring wealthy estate at Paxton.
The entwined stories of Milne Graden and its neighbour, Paxton House, date back much further. It starts with a romance between Sir David Milne and his one true love, Grace Home.
Admiral Sir David Milne fell in love with a relative of the Home family, Grace. She was a member of the landed gentry, he the second son of a rich merchant in the silk trade, and so it was an unlikely union, yet love prevailed and they were married in 1804.
In 1814, Grace died, leaving their two sons, David and Alexander. Milne continued his life at sea, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral, but couldn’t shake off his loneliness and despair. Seeing this, his friend George Home suggested that he marry his ward, Agnes Stephen, from Inveresk Gate in Musselburgh, offering the considerable sum of £14,000 as encouragement. Agnes and Milne were married, and set about finding a suitable home.
‘Milne Graden’ from across the River Tweed
Using money taken from enemy ships at sea, Milne commissioned the Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham to design the new house. The foundation stone was laid on 3rd April 1822 by the architect, the Paxton family and the Milne family, before a party of 100 masons.
Sir David and Lady Milne moved into their Borders home in December 1823, amid ‘such a scene of confusion you have never witnessed’, as Lady Agnes wrote to her stepson, David. Although the marriage was unhappy, Milne’s career prospered and he enjoyed great success until his death, at sea, in 1845.
Sir David is buried in Inveresk, alongside his true love, Grace, and the family home passed to their son, David. Milne Graden’s close relationship with Paxton was strengthened when David married Jean Home, George’s daughter, and became David Milne-Home. Their son, Col. David Milne Home, took over Paxton in 1876, and future generations continue to thrive on these joint estates.
‘West Avenue’
Almost two centuries have passed since the sea-faring Admiral made his home on the River Tweed, and a new family now live and work on The Beautiful Estate of Kersfield, Together with the adjoining Land and Woods of Snook, On the banks of The Tweed – which is now called Milne Graden.
Map by Sarah Farooqi
Enjoy a walk around the Milne Graden Estate
Follow the estate’s circular walk along the Tweed and through the woodlands and be sure to stop for a visit in the Tails of the Tweed Dog Park – set in our Victorian walled garden – for some off-lead frolicks, designed with large and small dogs in mind.
We would appreciate that you keep your dog on a lead in all public areas.
Please ensure you clean up after your dog.