Dawyck Castle was built about the thirteenth century and belonged to the Veitch family until 1691 when it was purchased by Sir James Nasmyth.[1] In 1897 the estate and barony passed to the Balfours.[2][3] Dawyck was demolished in 1830 and the Dawyck House mansion was erected on the same footprint. The current house has been protected as a Category B listed building since 23 February 1971[4] and the grounds were added to the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland in 1987.[5]
Dawyck (together with Stobo Castle) were the first Scottish sites to introduce the non-native species of horse chestnut in 1650.[6]