Description

A large 18th or early 19th century, rectangular-plan walled garden, located to the south of Camis Eskan House (LB1169) and measuring around 60 metres by 50 metres. The walled garden has a notably high rubble wall with harl-pointing, droved ashlar quoins and dressed margins, and ashlar slab coping. There are the remains of stone lean-to service structures against the inner south wall, and the foundations of former glasshouses adjoining the outer south wall.

The walled garden at Camis Eskan first appears on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1860, published 1862) in the same rectangular footprint as exists today (2022). Its method of construction and its masonry detailing are indicative of an 18^th century date, particularly the style of droved ashlar dressings and corner-angle quoins. The internal lean-to structures and the external glasshouses have been ruinous since at least 1979, when the Camis Eskan House, Dovecot, Lodge and Walled Garden were first listed (LB1169, LB1167, LB1138, LB1175).

Statement of Interest

In our current state of knowledge, we find that the building meets the criteria for listing for the following reasons:

• It is a good surviving example of a traditional 18^th or early 19^th century walled which retains architectural detailing characteristic of its date. The walls and openings remain largely intact, and it survives largely in its original form to the exterior.
• It forms part of a group of historic buildings recognised for their architectural and historic interest including Camis Eskan House and Dovecot and contributes to the character of the former Camis Eskan estate.
• The deteriorated condition of the adjoining structures has not affected the character and legibility of the building to the extent that it is no longer of special interest for listing.
• It is not a rare building type but is of increasing rarity within the context of a relatively complete group of ancillary estate structures.
• It is of social historical interest for illustrating the way an estate was laid out and how it functioned during the 18^th and early 19th century.

Walled gardens are an important yet common ancillary structure of high-status country houses or smaller houses within substantial landholdings. Surviving examples range in date from the 16th to the 20th centuries, with the majority dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. The walled kitchen and fruit garden was particularly important in Scotland where a harsh climate and unfavourable growing conditions prevailed. Hardy crops were generally grown in the open areas of the garden, fruit trees trained up the walls, and heated glasshouses were used to grow more delicate and exotic produce. By the early 19th century walled gardens were increasingly located further away from the house as was previously common when defensive nature of buildings was still a consideration. The construction of walled gardens declined after the Second World War as produce became more accessible through imports.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56606716

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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