Commendator's House, Melrose Abbey

The Commendator's House stands detached to the north of Melrose Abbey, within the former abbey precinct. It was likely built in the 15th or early 16th century, possibly as an addition to the Abbot’s residence, and remodeled in 1590 by James Douglas of Lochleven, the Abbey Commendator. Further alterations and additions occurred around 1830 to transform the building into a mansion house known as 'The Priory'. In 1936, John Wilson Paterson and James Smith Richardson of HM Office of Works restored the building to approximate its 1590 appearance. The house now contains important artifacts discovered during excavations of the Abbey precinct.

The building is composed of a two-storey rectangular block of red sandstone rubble with a piended roof, and a three-storey, crowstepped stair tower located towards the south end of the east side. The south end of the main block features two windows on each floor. A recut lintel above the entrance on the south side of the stair tower bears the initials of James Douglas and Mary Kerr of Ferniehurst and is dated 1590. The east and north walls of the stair tower contain wide-mouthed defensive shot-holes at ground floor level.

The east elevation of the main block shows nine socket holes at the first floor level, indicating the former presence of a timber gallery and stair. The east and west elevations feature an irregular arrangement of predominantly 16th and 17th century window openings, with smaller windows at ground floor level.

Ground and first floor windows on the south elevation are timber sash and case windows with a 15-pane glazing pattern; smaller ground floor windows are fixed timber casements. The roofs are covered in grey slate, and there are three chimney stacks - one at the inner gable of the stair tower, and two on the ridge of the main block. Cast iron rainwater goods are in place.

The interior, as observed in 2016, was reworked in 1936 to display medieval masonry and artefacts uncovered during excavations of the abbey's main drain and foundations. The ground floor contains two barrel vaulted chambers dating to 1590 or earlier. The south room features a wide fireplace arch with recesses in the jambs. The first floor is divided into three gallery rooms with high, vaulted ceilings, and evidence of earlier fireplace openings is visible.