Barjarg House, Mid and Upper Nithsdale, Dumfries and Galloway

Description

Complex mansion, beginning with much altered possibly 16th

century L-plan tower house (now at north east angle);

gallery; cupola over square stair well; some decorative additions/alterations at various dates including circa 1680,

1806 and 1914 (last by J M Bowie of Dumfries). Corresponding

duplicate tower (built to include stables) to west, and

these linked by (lower) 3-storey, 5-bay north-facing range

with canted central bay, all thus forming roughly U-plan

house with symmetrical north elevation. Ballroom addition to

south of original tower, some alterations (mullioned and

transoned windows to east) and internal re-ordering 1914

(dated). All rubble-built with ashlar dressings, crow-

stepped gables, corbelled bartizans and parapets.

Original tower: 4 storeys with attic (openings regularised)

door in re-entrant anlge, with yett; conical-roofed

bartizans over north gable are raised/partly rebuilt;

parapet, crow-stepped dormer and inserted east-facing

mullioned window all added 1914; stair turret to south

probably 17th century.

Duplicate tower: (similar - not identical - to original

tower) chequer-blocking above dummy gun loop in north gable

and at original wallhead; conical-roofed bartizans over

north gable raised/partly rebuilt; 2 tall kitchen windows to

east elevation rise through 2-storeys; addition (? circa 1806)

to south, with segmental-arched carriageway to rear court.

Inner range: advanced and canted central entrance bay

possibly built circa 1806; present doorway by Bowie,

remaining openings hood-moulded; slits in flanks; tripartites

in moulded architraves to top floor; remaining bays with

single windows. Small-paned glazing pattern throughout -

windows mostly sashes. Detached conical-roofed (?) game

larder to south built above rear court and approached by

ramp from west. Coped stacks throughout; all roofs slated.

Interior: original tower vaulted at ground-floor; extensive

oak panelling by Bowie, including ballroom with minstrel's

plaster-work in dining and drawing rooms. Balustraded

terrace walls around house by Bowie.

Statement of Interest

Building sequence difficult to interpret.

Symmetrical north front with duplicate tower possibly

established late 17th century, but central block and

duplicate tower house are of different dates, & owner

believes inner range to be 1806. North front appears

roughly as now existing in Swan's view (pub 1829), &

duplicate tower is dated 1680 over original door lintel on a

(? reset) panel; if duplicate tower is relatively late in

date, some stonework, eg bartizan corbels is re-used. RHP

22364 in SRO is dated 1763 and shows an east and a west

range, the former L-plan, with wings to north and to south.

External Links

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