A NEW exhibition at a historic Tweeddale house is now open.

An exhibition about the life and times of Charles, eighth and final Earl of Traquair, has opened at the High Gallery at Traquair.

Charles was an eccentric person with a strong commitment to his estate and the Traquair community.

‘The Last Earl’ was born in Peeblesshire; however, he spent his early years in Spain as his father attempted to use his Jacobite connections to secure mining rights in the European country.

They returned to Scotland in 1801.

He then studied in the north of England and took over the Traquair Estate in 1827.

To tackle the debt he inherited, Charles reduced the size of the estate and invested time in improving and modernising his farms and land.

The Earl had a range of interests and always sought out knowledge.

He sharpened razors for his tenants free of charge, organised wasp hunts and kept detailed accounts of his travels from 1820 to the 1850s – including 19 visits he made to the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in London.

The exhibition includes letters, diaries and artefacts from Charles’ life.

However, there is no known portrait of the last Earl.

Catherine Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair, said: “For all that is known about the life of Charles, sadly, he is the only Earl of Traquair with no known portrait or image.

“It is possible there is a painting or even a photograph somewhere so any knowledge of this would be gratefully received.”

Charles, who never married – apparently becoming so fed up with his family’s efforts to find a bride that he put nettles in their beds – died at the age of 80 and was succeeded by his sister Lady Louisa Stuart, who also died unmarried at the age of 99.

‘The Last Earl’ exhibition is open daily for the remainder of July and throughout August from 10.30am to 5pm.

Admission is free to Traquair House ticket holders and season pass holders.