For over 12 years the trust has been working on restoring Gunsgreen House, the imposing Georgian mansion house that overlooks Eyemouth harbour, and opening it up as a visitor attraction.

And their efforts were recognised by the cross border organisation EBDA (Eastern Borders Development Association) who selected the house as this year's winner of their annual award. The award was started by a determined group of trustees who wanted to applaud the entrepreneurial work being done in the area to reverse the growing trend of depopulation in the eastern Borders in the 1950s and 60s and has continued ever since.

Gunsgreen House Trust was presented with the award at a ceremony in Berwick Town Hall on Monday night and Gunsgreen administrator Derek Janes, said it was a satisfying conclusion to what has been a 'rollercoaster' couple of years.

"In the early years, trustees worked hard on developing a viable plan for Gunsgreen and then since the building work started in 2006/7, it's been all go," said Derek Janes.

"We had a very difficult time of things from November 2008 to February last year after the original building contractors went bankrupt. There were moments when we thought there wasn't going to be any good news but thankfully we secured some additional funding and were able to appoint local sub-contractors to finish the job.

"This award is for them too as without them coming onboard for the final push we would never have opened on time.

"We had 1600 people through the house before we closed the doors for winter at the end of October," Derek continued.

Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire, Major Alexander Trotter, read the citation about Gunsgreen House at Monday's ceremony: "For over two hundred and fifty years, Gunsgreen House has dominated the Eyemouth townscape, occupying a commanding position overlooking the harbour.

"Built in the 1750s to a design by Scotland's then foremost architect, John Adam, for local entrepreneurs, John and David Nisbet, it was, as well as a merchant's house, a hotbed of notorious smuggling activity for some 50 years.

"From the early nineteenth century it was used for various other purposes including those of a private residence, a bed and breakfast establishment and golf clubhouse until, in the late 1990s, this Grade A listed building lay empty, semi-derelict and apparently without a viable future.

"The property's salvation came in the form of the Gunsgreen House Trust, a charitable trust established by concerned and committed local people to prepare a conservation and restoration plan.

"The task facing the trustees was enormous – and there were several setbacks during the course of restoration work - but with the assistance of grant aid and other help from Historic Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Scottish Borders Council and other bodies and agencies, the restoration work was finally completed last year at a cost of approximately £2.5million and the property was opened to the public in August.

"Its attractions include not only a comprehensive portrayal of the merchant's house itself, with full displays of its colourful past, but also facilities for meetings, private functions and weddings; and a comprehensive programme of educational and learning opportunities, including two courses within the Scottish and English curricula guidelines aimed at primary schools and making full use of the property to develop a range of activities and skills.

"There is a Junior Trustee Board too, drawn from the high school and its affiliated primary schools, to involve the youth of Eyemouth in the project as advisers to the parent board. Finally, the two top floors of the house and the neighbouring Nisbet's Tower have been transformed into attractive self-catering accommodation.

"Had the EBDA Award been in existence in 1750, it is quite possible that, overlooking the nefarious side of their activities, the merchant brothers Nisbet might well have been nominated for their outstanding entrepreneurial achievements.

"The trustees of the EBDA Award, however, congratulate the new occupiers of Gunsgreen House, for their entirely law-abiding foresight, initiative and determination in taking the project forward to so successful a conclusion and they have much pleasure in making their award for 2009 to the Gunsgreen House Trust."

The retirement of two of the EBDA trustees, Ted Cawthorn and Peter Rutherford was also announced at Monday's ceremony.
Chairman of the trustees, Jim Evans, said: "Ted has been associated with EBDA for 35 years and for the last 27 years has served as our honorary secretary.

"Throughout all that time he has devoted considerable time and effort to his duties and has never charged any expenses. Each of these years the meetings of the trustees and the award ceremonies have passed off without a hitch due to his foresight and planning.

"He will be very difficult to replace and we are very grateful for all he has done."

Gunsgreen House officially re-opens on Wednesday, March 24, but will be open to visitors again from Saturday, March 6. Although don't be surprised to see it in use this weekend - after securing a marriage licence just before Christmas, Gunsgreen is hosting its first wedding, and as coincidence would have it their name is also Nisbet.