As a music teacher, fluent Gaelic and French speaker, dressmaker and genealogist, there is no doubt that Tour Guide Lesley Abernethy is an absolute mine of information on a wide range of subjects, with the knowledge and passion to provide visitors with a fascinating insight into the history of Mellerstain.
When first asked about any special interests, it quickly became very clear that Lesley has many strings to her bow! Let’s start at the beginning.
When just twelve years old, Lesley clearly remembers her Granny in Yorkshire telling her stories about her own grand-mother and little did she know then, but this was to spark a lifelong interest in family history and genealogy. A passion which was to prove extremely useful in her later role here at Mellerstain and in a house with so many portraits, this skill has enabled Lesley to unravel the relationships between non-family members and family members throughout the centuries. As any visitor will tell you, Lesley is an authority on the history of the Ballie family at Mellerstain, with a particular fascination and admiration for the remarkable Lady Grisell Baillie.
