A pedimented Georgian house facing the Tweed has sustained a long second life as a hotel without losing its formal domestic character.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1761; enlarged and adapted in the 19th and 20th centuries
- Architect / designer
- James Nisbet
- Type
- Georgian mansion adapted as hotel
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB35716)
- OS grid reference
- NT 72717 33836
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
A seven-bay ashlar entrance front rises over a basement, with the central three bays advanced beneath a pediment. Curved steps, a hooded doorway, tall sash windows, balustraded screens and the Dickson arms give the composition measured grandeur.
Its story
James Nisbet designed the house for James Dickson in 1761. Mid-nineteenth-century alterations enriched the entrance, and successive twentieth-century extensions supported conversion and growth as a hotel while retaining the principal Georgian range.
Why it is included
Category A architecture, a named local designer and successful hospitality reuse connect Kelso’s eighteenth-century prosperity with its visitor economy.
What to notice
- Seven-bay pedimented entrance front.
- Curved balustraded entrance steps.
- Dickson arms and restrained ashlar detailing.
Reading the surroundings
This is a working hotel. Interior access is for guests, diners and authorised events; respect bedrooms, private functions, riverside grounds and staff guidance, and do not treat the property as an open museum.
Timeline
- 1761 James Nisbet completed the house for merchant James Dickson.
- Mid-19th century A richer entrance and related alterations updated the Georgian residence.
- 1932–55 Several additions supported its development as a hotel.
- 2026 The business advertises accommodation, dining, meetings and private events.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Guest access, event spaces and riverside facilities depend on bookings and current hotel arrangements.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Ednam House Hotel, LB35716 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Ednam House Hotel: meetings and events — Current hotel identity, dining, meeting, event and private-hire use.
Location
OS grid reference NT 72717 33836 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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