Overview of Turret House

Said to be Kelso's oldest residence, Turret House is located in the delightful Abbey Court, across from Kelso Abbey and opposite St Andrew's Episcopal Church. It was built in 1678 as a modest single-storey cottage for John Palmer, a Tweed boatman, but the property has subsequently been much-altered and now comprises two storeys and six bays, with a prominent round stair tower projecting into Abbey Court. This turret rises to three storeys, the highest is square, corbelled out over the storeys below and featuring crow-stepped gables.

B-listed since 1971, the house was restored under the auspices of the National Trust for Scotland Little Houses Improvement Scheme. It is now let as self-catering holiday accommodation.