After mutual consideration, the partnership of Ford & Etal Estates and Cheviot Brewery of the management of The Black Bull, Etal will be coming to a close to allow for a change of direction. This move will enable both parties to concentrate on their core business and The Black Bull pub will shortly be let […]

All the roofs in Etal were once thatched and very picturesque they were too. The downside was the ever-present risk of the thatch catching alight – the open fires and stoves needed for heating and cooking perilously sent sparks up and out of the chimneys. For this reason tiled roofs began to replace thatch at […]

On Thursday June 2nd, a beacon was lit at Watchlaw, forming part of the national chain of beacons to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. This was one of 1500 beacons across the nation. Visibility from the site at Watchlaw was excellent and beacons at Berwick-upon-Tweed and Coldstream could be seen. This historic event, […]

Furniture maker Rob Elliot, from Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, is the first-ever winner of the Louisa Waterford Prize.  His stunning Flow Desk and Chair installation was unanimously selected for the 2022 Prize. The multi-disciplinary work of the 24 finalists was exhibited at Lady Waterford Hall over three days in early May. Winner Rob Elliot […]

Thanks to a generous donation, Lady Waterford Hall has been able to purchase a stunning portrait of Louisa, Lady Waterford, by James Rannie Swinton commissioned in 1851. Swinton (1816 – 1888) was born in Berwickshire and studied at Edinburgh’s Trustees’ Academy before being enrolled in the Royal Academy in London in 1840. He soon became […]

The FitzClarence gates at Letham Hill were commissioned by Lady Augusta FitzClarence, owner of Etal Manor from 1821 to 1876, as a surprise for her husband Lord Frederick FitzClarence, Lieutenant-General in the British army and an illegitimate son of King William IV. Sadly, Lord FitzClarence did not see this gift as he succumbed to illness […]

Our teams are working extremely hard to clear the damage from Storm Arwen but it may take some time to get to every part of Ford & Etal Estates. Please take care when walking on footpaths on and around the Estates and look out for paths damaged by falling trees.

The Northumberland Gazette (26 Nov, 2020) reported on much needed repairs that have been recently undertaken to keep the waterwheel turning at Heatherslaw Mill. Head Miller, Dave Harris-Jones, has seen orders increase by 250% on normal demand during the second lockdown and the waterwheel has been working hard to power the machinery. It is almost […]