The Sitting Room

The picture depicting a view of Floors Castle by William Wilson was painted in 1809 and shows the rectangular Georgian building created by William Adam before the alterations by William Playfair

The portrait of the present Duke was painted by Howard Morgan in 1988. He is wearing trews in Ker tartan and is seated on the blue Genoa velvet sofa in the Ballroom.

Included among the many fine examples of French furniture in the house is a Louis XVI bureau a cylindre by Pierre Denizot. Below the portrait of the present Duke is a George III mahogany commode in the manner of John Cobb. Over the fireplace hangs a hunting scene by John E. Ferneley and on the table to the left is a small water-colour of Kelso by J. W. M. Turner.

From the south facing windows of Floors may be seen the ruins of Roxburgh Castle, once the strongest fortress on the whole border with England. It had been in English hands for over a century when in 1460 it was besieged by the Scots under King James II. On Sunday August 3rd while discharging a cannon he was accidentally blown up and killed and a holly tree (enclosed by a white fence) marks the spot where he died. On hearing of the King's death the Queen, Marie de Gueldres travelled to Roxburgh with their son, then eight years old, who was hastily crowned James III in Kelso Abbey. The Scots continued the assault on Roxburgh Castle until it was "doung to the ground".