[2] The Kirna's proximity to a significant number of ancient man-made structures, including some dating back to pre-historic times, suggests that this general location along the Tweed valley has been of strategic importance to settlers throughout history.

[4] It retains all of its original 1867 Scots Baronial and Venetian Romanesque design features including an idiosyncratic tower in Ruskinian Gothic style.

[5] The heavy oak main staircase features distinctive turned and carved balusters identical to those found in F T Pilkington's own house, Egremont, 38 Dick Place, Edinburgh, and grotesque finials holding shields sporting the initials of George Ballantyne (1836-1924) and his wife Marion White Aitken (1841-1914).

[7] The dining room ceiling incorporates the initials of Colin Ballantyne (1879-1942) and his wife Isabella Milne Welsh (1881-1969), respectively.

Immediately above the entrance is the first floor with prominent chequered detail between the band courses, and a repeat of the rope moulding around the windows.

The Kirna was praised as "a pleasing example of the modern style Gothic as applied to domestic purposes: abundance of light is given, and variety is secured without violent contrast".

[10] Drawings of alterations dated 1903 by James Jerdan (architect at 12 Castle Street, Edinburgh), indicate the addition of a coal chute and "heating chamber" area located beside the main building.

[3] The deed explicitly provided for George to draw his domestic water from the Kirna Burn until such time as a reservoir was constructed to supply the Estate of Pirn, and to source stone from Purveshill quarries.

Between 1870 and 1872 George secured two personal loans amounting to £800 (£97,000 in 2020)[note 2] using The Kirna as collateral, suggesting that he may have been facing financial difficulties.

[23] In 1874 he mortgaged The Kirna for £1,000 (£116,000 in 2020) through the Scottish Union & National Insurance Co. and used a portion of the proceeds to repay £500 of his outstanding personal loans.

[25][26][27] David already owned a property (Sunnybrae) in Walkerburn at that time, suggesting that his purchase of The Kirna was designed to facilitate George's departure and possibly his exit from Henry Ballantyne's business.

Not long after his arrival in New Zealand, and despite his original mandate, George accepted a position as manager of the newly formed Oamaru Woollen Factory Company in 1881 and there is no record of him engaging with Henry Ballantyne's mills from that time onwards .

[32][33][34] For some period immediately prior to his death George is known to have lived in Malvern, Australia with his second daughter, Mary Kyle (1869-1923) who predeceased him by one year.

[42] Late 19th century maps indicate that the current driveway for the coach house was a road extending to the land on Purvishill, and the whinstone quarries to the north east of the ancient terraces.

[53] In August 1871 the gardener (named Jullien) to George Ballantyne committed suicide, allegedly by cutting his own throat after a long period of illness.

[57] The alterations of 1903 added a further four fireplaces and a coal-fired hot water boiler in the newly constructed "heating chamber".

[58][59] Gas wall heaters were installed in most rooms in the early 1980s, and hot water was heated by an AGA with an integrated boiler in the kitchen.

[64] The Kirna is situated on Peebles Road, originally Pink Bank, in the valley of the River Tweed, a few hundred metres west of Walkerburn village.

[71][72] The Kirna is in close proximity to almost a dozen man-made structures, some dating back to pre-historic times, illustrating the strategic importance to settlers of the Old North throughout history.

The site and surrounding lands benefit from ample supplies of fresh water from the Kirna Burn and the Walker Burn, its elevation above the flood plain of the Tweed River, extensive views up and down the Tweed Valley, the south-facing slope of Kirnie Law, and a rich topsoil.

A for sale advertisement in The Scotsman published on 15 April 1871, cites "an abundance of beautiful spring water" to The Kirna.

Today, Kirna Lodge is a three-bedroom house overlooking the Tweed Valley, with a conservatory and a four-car garage.

Approximately 80 metres to the south of The Kirna's perimeter wall, across Peebles Road, is the site of Kirnie Tower.

[95] Ordnance Survey Name Books in the mid-1800s record the structure as "one of the ancient feudal residences erected for the protection of the Borders.

[96][97][94] A series of these peel towers was built in the 15th century along the Tweed valley from its source to Berwick, as early-warning beacons announcing invasion from the Marches.

[102][103] The remains of ancient terraces and Purvishill Tower are located approximately 200 metres due west of The Kirna at the base of Purvis Hill.

Given their unusual scale, character and location, the terraces may have been intended to provide level ground for gardens or orchards, although a more utilitarian agricultural function is also possible.

[104] An archaeological evaluation in 2020 suggested that the features originally interpreted as possible cultivation terraces were a series of tracks and paths relating to quarry activity which took place to the N and W of the development area during the 19th and 20th centuries.