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18TH CENTURY The site of Castle Hills was known in the late eighteenth century as “SPRING GARDENS” this is described by Dr Fuller in his “History of Berwick upon Tweed” published in 1799. These gardens are situated about half a mile from the further extremity of the suburb of the town, and stretch along the steep banks of the North side of the river. They enjoy much of the genial warmth of the sun from so completely facing that animating luminary. From what ever quarter these Gardens are viewed in the vernal and summer months the several little clumps of planting, which are irregularly interspersed through them, some situated on projecting eminences, and others shooting forth their exuberant foliage, from natural excavations, impart to the whole a considerable degree of rural simplicity, and no small share of a romantic and picturesque appearance.” Down stream from the Spring Gardens the New Water Haugh planted by Sir Francis Blake in the 1790’s combines with Castle hills to provide an area of fine woodland on the North bank of the Tweed. The small cottage on the eastern extremity of the plantation now Chateau Pedro was originally known as Grove Cottage. The drive wall to Castle Hills incorporates a fragment of sculpture and a stone inscribed thus
The sculpture and inscription are separately listed as buildings of historic interest grade 2. I believe them to date from the mid 17th century possibly from the Palace constructed on the Castle ruins by the Earl of Dunbar.
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