Description

Rectangular-plan tower house, probably mid 16th century, with

1770 2-storey country house to NE, latter with classical

details and with various additions including 1841-2

alterations and additions by Peter Smith, mason and James

Scott, joiner, re-using material of the "old mansion house of

Bonshaw"; tower linked to house 1896 by low corridor. All

rubble-built with ashlar dressings; slated roofs. All

arranged around forecourt at head of steep cliff to E and to

S.

Tower: 4 storeys, horizontal gun loops to elevations above

splayed base course, openings above mostly roll-moulded

bipartites or slits: corbelled plain parapet with

machicolations; crow-stepped gables (crow steps set forward

at NE over internal wheel stair) with end stack at S;

roof-pitch lowered, N-facing former attic light in gable apex

now serves as an open belfry. Corridor encloses tower outer

door and yett: roll-moulded doorway with cornice and panel

recess above.

Interior: monogramed pendant boss within doorway; ground

floor vaulted, with prison cell and stone girnal, wheel stair

within NE angle; wide roll-moulded fireplace at principal

(1st) floor, stone window seats and aumbries; fireplace in

2nd floor, and garderobe.

House: precise development not clear; earliest part seemingly

a 1770 2-storey, 3-bay hose with Doric-columned and

pedimented porch and piended roof; E flank single bay; long

3-bay W elevation altered - possibly 1841-2 (though perhaps

earlier) - with full-height bow added to right, left bay

raised to full height. Continuous eaves band and cornice:

corniced stacks. Tall lean-to fills re-entrant angle;

crow-stepped service wing to N.

Link: roll-moulded slit openings and forecourt door; re-used bolection-moulded doorway incorporated in W wall; concealed

roof. Masked cavetto skewputt incorporated in interior wall.

Courtyard: crenellated low wall over steep slope largely

rebuilt 1895 (dated); some 17th-early 18th century stones

incorporated including roll-moulded jambs and broken

pediment.

Statement of Interest

Listed category A for quality of tower.

Tower and later works for Irvings of Bonshaw.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Bonshaw Tower at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q15978763

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6