and today, in the entrance (or Laigh) hall, the very table on which he is supposed to have played can still be seen. The story goes that, although the devil normally beat Tam, one night Tam won, and in fury the Devil threw a marble table at him. However, it missed and it landed in the Sergeants' Pond outside. A marble table was indeed found when the pond dried up 200 years later. The cards, goblet and spoon, supposedly used in the game are displayed in the house. The General is said to have told the Devil, who threatened to blow down his house and its walls, that "I will build me a turret at every corner to pin down my walls". The Parkland The house is set in of parkland, and approached by two drives: the current west drive, and main east drive that has been disused since 1913. The category "B" listed folly Binns Tower is situated at the highest point of the park, Binns Hill. It was designed by Alexander Allan in 1826, allegedly as the result of a wager placed with the then owner, Sir James Dalyell. On the west side of Binns Hill is a woodland garden with walks through it to the tower. Beneath the escarpment to the south-west of the Tower is General Tam's cave, supposedly used by him for meditation. In addition to the folly, the park contains a number of other important features. Off the west drive is a derelict stables complex (built before 1818) and a walled garden. The walled garden, constructed at an unknown date, served as a kitchen garden until World War II. It was used previous by a contractor as a tree and shrub nursery, although part was also used to provide flowers for the house. Towards the west drive is the remains of an old quarry (believed to be pre 19th century). Also near the west drive is the Sergeant's Pond, which was constructed circa 1681 as a watering place for the horses of the Royal Scots Greys by General Dalyell. The pond was also used again as a watering place for the Royal Scots Greys regiment in 1935 when they were encamped at the Binns. In a valley in the south-east corner of the park lies a ruined former mid 19th century chapel that eventually became a farmers cottage. A caravan park was established in