Hugo Burge had a vision for Marchmont House, the grand Palladian mansion he owned in the Borders. Despite finding success in the digital world through travel search engines such as Cheapflights, the London-born entrepreneur wanted to create a physical hub for the local community to gather and unleash their creativity. Building workshops and studios and hosting events and concerts, he spent 10 years filling the house and its grounds with and artists.
Last May, though, with many ventures left unfinished. In his memory, the newly established Hugo Burge Foundation endeavours to carry on the philanthropist’s work and build on his legacy. This summer, the Borders community will be able to enjoy drawing classes, film premieres, flower arranging workshops, garden tours and more in Marchmont’s permanent studio spaces, beautiful walled garden and restored glasshouse.
“Hugo was interested in quite disruptive businesses that were using the internet to get accessibility for people,” foundation executive director Lucy Brown explained. “Things like Cheapflights were very much about democratising the travel industry and the companies he invested in were like that too. He felt very much that, with the digital revolution of everything, he wanted that focus on arts and crafts again because he loved both.
He loved the digital world and he loved heritage crafts.” Borders arts community The loss of was felt deeply within the local community. His father Oliver had bought the Marchmont E.
