...due to complicated property exchanges, deaths and bankruptcies in the 1950's, Chisholme was left without a resident owner and gradually fell into decay.

History of Chisholme House

For four hundred years, the Chisholme Estate was the seat of the Chisholme of Chisholme.

18th and Early 19th Century

The present Chisholme House was built in 1752. In the eighteenth century it passed into the hands of Sir William Douglas of Drumlanrig then to Lord Hume, then, when the latter fell from Royal favour, the estate was ceded to the Crown. In about 1826 Mr. William Chisholme, a member of the Selkirk branch of the family who had made a fortune in Jamaica, bought back the estate and it remained in the Chisholme family until about 1871.

Late 19th Century

At the end of the nineteenth century, it was bought by a Mr. Henderson, who added the wing, modernised the cottages, installed a new water system (including a hydraulic ram, still in use, for supplementing the water supply in summer) and built the road and the bridge at Woodburn.

20th Century

After his death in the 1930's the estate was bought by Mr. Bruce (who is still remembered in the area). In 1950 it was put on the market by Mr. Bruce's nephew, and large areas of the estate, including Parkhill and Woodburn farms, were auctioned off. From then on, due to complicated property exchanges, deaths and bankruptcies in the 1950's, Chisholme was left without a resident owner and gradually fell into decay.

The Beshara School

Consequently, when the Beshara School arrived in 1973, the house was in an advanced state of dereliction. The estate surrounding it was of 112 acres, but the state of the house was such an urgent priority that 100 of these acres were sold to provide repair funds. However by 1986 these acres had been returned to Chisholme - see Recent History of the Estate for more details.

The house is listed Grade II with the Historic Buildings Council of Scotland, who supported the initial phase of the restoration.