The greater part of the village of Grantshouse (i.e. the part to the north of the railway) stands on land which was for hundreds of years part of the estate of Renton.

The history of Renton Estate can be traced back some 900 years to the time that Edgar, who was king of Scotland from 1097 to 1107, gave it to the monks of Coldingham Priory. 

At that time Renton was variously called Raynton, Regnington, Regnintum and Reignintum.

The family living there took on the name of Renton but in the reign of William the Lion (king of Scotland from 1143 to 1214) that family was appointed foresters of woods belonging to Coldingham Priory and it therefore assumed the surname Forester, relinquishing the name of Renton in the process. The woods for which the family was responsible were those at Greenwood, Reston, Brockholewood, Akieside, Kirchedeneswood, Harewood, Swinewood and Houndwood and the 'wages' included "meat and drink to the forester and his man, and horse-meat, when he shall come to the Lord Prior, with a robe fit for a gentleman to wear when he attends the said Lord Prior at Christmas yearly."

Renton Tower was sited near to where Renton House stands today and the ancient village of Renton was located near to today's Renton Barns farmhouse.

In the sixteenth century the estate passed, through marriage, into the possession of Patrick Home of Coldingham, whose son Sir Alexander Home of Renton was Sheriff-Principal of Berwickshire from 1616 to 1621. Sir Alexander was a very harsh judge, as evidenced by a letter dated 15 May 1624 sent by one of his sons to Sir Patrick Home of Polwarth. The letter complains that instances of witchcraft in Coldingham Parish were on the increase – "The slackness of judges for a long tyme has been the occasioun of it, for there are never any apprehended there since my father was sheriffe, at which tyme he caused burne seven or eight of them."

Further evidence of the Homes' unpopularity can be found in two ancient pieces of poetry:-

The estate remained in the name of 'Home' until 1783 when it passed into the hands of the Stirlings of Glorat.

In the nineteenth century the farms owned by Renton Estate included Renton Home Farm, Renton Barns, Renton Bell, Harelawside, Greenwood, Mountalban, Horsley, and part of Westwood. These farms were let to tenant farmers. Certain houses on the estate, for example at North and South Renton, were also let, as was Renton Smithy, which was located where the eastern end of the Harelawside lay-by now joins the A1 road.

The Mansion House at Renton was also let out at one time; and for a period of about 16 years it was an inn, which formed a stage on the Edinburgh to London road (after the section from Tower Bridge to Ayton superseded the old post road over Coldingham Moor). James Mitchell, tenant of Press Inn, issued the following notice on 5 August 1816 – "James Mitchell, having 4 years experience of the many Favors received from the Public at this place, begs leave to inform them that the NEW ROAD leading from Dunglas to Ayton is nearly complete and about to open soon: He has for their Accommodation taken that Elegant House of Renton, to be possessed by him as an Inn, upon the said New Road with Excellent Stabling and lockt up Coach House, all to be fitted up in the most elegant manner; with excellent Horses, good Post Chaises, and careful Drivers."

In the 1830s Renton House reverted to a private residence and was eventually occupied by the Stirlings – thitherto absentee landlords. When Mary Eleanor Stirling married Charles Lisle Cookson in the 1880s they styled themselves 'Stirling-Cookson'. Around this time Renton Estate comprised 2674 acres which yielded an annual income of approximately £3000.

Mary predeceased Charles, who died in October 1919 and death duties had the effect of splitting up the estate. In December 1923 Horsley was sold to Peter Rogerson. In May 1925 James Wight bought Greenwood and in the same month Ninian Sanderson bought Harelawside. Mountalban was sold to Neil Robertson in August 1925. All four buyers had previously held the tenancies of their farms. Many of the houses, cottages, workshops, etc on the estate, some with small pieces of ground attached, were also sold off around this time.

In February 1926 Renton House, Renton Barns, Renton Home Farm, the cottages at North Renton, Renton Smithy, and the cottages at South Renton and Deanfoot all passed into the hands of Harold Cookson. Beginning in the 1930s Renton House gardens and Renton dairy were from time to time opened to the public. At one time Renton Dairy had a shop in the West Port at Dunbar and, after the Second World War, the Renton milkman's round included Grantshouse, Cockburnspath, Bilsdean , the Cove, Renton School, Houndwood, Sunnyside, Reston, Ayton, Peelwalls and Prenderguest.

During the Second World War the estate was sold to a Mr Roberts and just after the war it was again sold, to Robert Fleming. In 1991 Renton House was bought by Beth Skivington-Jones, and the present owners are Christopher and Jean Heywood.

Jim Crosbie -2002

Renton House 'Yesterday'

Renton House 'Today'