NORTON HOUSE

Norton House ©
Norton House
Photograph from collection of Mrs. M. Day.

The present building is a two storey gabled house with Tudor/Jacobean details. Built c1838 in style of Bryce with additions and modelling in the late 19th century.

Norton appears in early charters: -

By KING DAVID 11.

(Item 37)

Carta to Hew Eglingtoun, of the lands of Bondingtoun and half lands of Nortoun, in the barony of Rathow, in Lothian; ane annual furth of Wefthall.

By KING ROBERT 11.

(Item 279)

Carta to Confirm. donationis quam Hugo de Eglyntoun, Miles, fecit Alano de Lawedre, de terra de Nortoun, in baronia de Rothew, in vic. De Edynburgh; apud Sanctum Andream, 13. Junii, an. reg. l.

(Item281)

Carta to Confirm donationis " quam nos fecimus dum nos eramus Senefcallus Scotie," Alano de Lawedre, et Alicie Cambell, et eorum diutius viventi, de daubus carucatis terre in villa de Nortoun, in baronia de Rathew, in vic. de Edynburgh, que fuerunt Ibbok, et Minote de Nortoun antiquorum tenentium earundem, et quas Fynlaus filius Henrici refignavit; apud Sanctum Andream, 13. Junii, an. reg. lmo.

(Item 22)

Carta to Hugoni de Eglingtoun Militi, et Egidie de Lyndifay forori Regis fponfe fue, de terris de Boningtoun, dimidio terre de Nortoun, et dominio terrarum de Wefthall et Cotraw, cum annuo redditu 4 marcarum et 8 folidoreum de Wefthall et Cotraw, in vicecom. de Edinburgh, tenen. De Rege et heredibus fuis Senefcallis Scotie.

The surviving Taxation Roll of 26th March 1479 (reign of James the Third) shows

“Nortoun ……………x pund.”

By a charter dated 30th October 1444, to the two chaplains of Nortoun and Byres, the teinds of Nortoun and Byres, now (Ratho Byres), with ten merks Scots, half yearly, out of the common purse.

See also Charles Maitland (Extracted from Great Seal 1660).

Parish records tell us that the Reid family were in residence at Norton.

The new statistical account of 1835 refers to the property as the seat of Alexander Berwick very recently erected.

1841 Census

Alex Berwick (50) brewer,

Helen (40),

Marion (40),

Alexander (19),

Fraser (13),

William (9),

Agnes (10).

1861 Census

Anna Holmes (41),

Alan (16) student,

Isabella (15),

James (13),

Catherine (12),

Amie (9),

Stewart (5),

Henry (2).

Five of these children were born in Australia.

The 1862/7 valuation roll shows the owner as a George Watson, (also Edinburgh Directory)

1871 Census

George Watson (64), Landowner,

Mary (Sister) (66),

William (Brother) (74), Ex Sheriff of Aberdeenshire,

Euphemia (Sister) (59).

1881 Census

George Watson (74), Landed Proprietor & JP.

William Watson (Brother) (84), Ex Sheriff of Aberdeenshire.

1891 Census

John Usher (60), Distiller and J.P.

Mary (59),

Francis J. (26),

Agnes (23).

The Usher Family was an extremely powerful family and famed for their house parties. This estate was only one of many they owned, along with Wells House in Roxburghshire and Pitheavlis Castle in Perth. The immense wealth of this family came from whisky Old Vat Glenlivet (Ushers OVG). In 1813 Andrew Usher set up as a spirit merchant in Edinburgh and by 1865 he and his sons produced the first blended malt Ushers OVG, and went on to become Scotland’s greatest whisky producer.

The family donated funds to build the Usher Hall in Edinburgh (£100,000.)

The last Usher Sir Stuart died in 1962 intestate. Both his sons suffering from Down’s syndrome.

1903 Sir John Usher, Bart. LL.D. distiller (and Usher & Co., Edinburgh) Norton, Ratho and Wells, Hawick. (Edinburgh Directory).

1930 Usher Baronetcy Trust.

During the Second World War it was used as headquarters for various army units stationed in the area.

The Usher Baronetcy trustees per McKenzie and Black W.S. (estate 414 acres)

Teind roll 1957 owned by a Mr & Mrs Robert Paterson.