190 Mr. Stuart on Hutton Hall 



(another old deserted house) add a richness to the landscape. 

 After passing through the richly cultivated country around, 

 the deserted and ruinous mansion of Hutton Hall takes the 

 visitor by surprise, recalling to the mind the memories of the 

 past. 



The ancient tower was situated a little to the west of the 

 present building, and, from its position, was evidently a place 

 of great strength. The date of the newer part is 1573, as 

 was seen till very lately over the door. The square massive 

 tower seems to be the only part of the ancient castle not de- 

 stroyed, and was evidently constructed to resist the hostile 

 visits of " the Northumbrian prickers wild and rude." 



There can be no doubt of the existence of this part of the 

 building for at least three centuries. The newer part is in 

 the Elizabethan style of architecture, with less of the orna- 

 mental than we usually see in houses of the same class further 

 south. The intricate passages, winding stairs, and conceal- 

 ments speak of a very early period, when the arts of peace 

 were less practised than at present, and when it was necessary 

 to provide against the consequences of a midnight surprise, 

 by the possession of a means of escape after the usual hostile 

 measures had failed. 



It is a very difficult matter to discover much about the early 

 history of a place like the present. I think, however, we 

 cannot be far wrong in supposing Hutton Hall to have been, 

 originally, the residence of the Huttons of that ilk, more than 

 once mentioned in Nisbet's Heraldry. They appear to have 

 early left the county, but are still extant, and boast of their 

 family having produced some eminent men. Dr. Thomas 

 Hutton, Richard the third's ambassador to the court of Brit- 

 tany, was one ; Dr. John Hutton, chief physician to William 

 and Mary, was another; Dr. James Hutton of Slighouses, 

 author of an ingenious treatise on the earth, and who also 

 introduced turnip husbandry from Norfolk into Berwickshire, 

 was a third. 



But whatever may have been the origin of Hutton Hall, it 

 appears by a charter dated 1st July, 1467, and quoted by Sir 

 Robert Douglas in his peerage of Scotland, that George Kerr 

 of Samuelton, at that date conveyed the lands of Hutton Hall 

 to Sir Alex. Home of that ilk, and that it subsequently be- 

 came the property of one of the seven spears of Wedderburne, 

 mentioned in the Lay of the Last Minstrel by Sir W. Scott, 

 as having come to the aid of Branksome, against Belted Will 

 Howard and Lord Dacre. The seven spears of Wedderburne 

 were the sons of that Knight of Wedderburne who fell at 



