Description

Jonathan Anderson Bell, 1855-57. 2-and 3-storey castellated Gothic mansion; 4-storey bell tower; L-plan staff extension to rear, James Tait circa 1900; linking glass corridor to modern single storey ward block. Sandstone ashlar. Base course, stringcourses; parapets, hoodmoulds.

W (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: projecting 3-storey entrance tower with crenellated parapet; 2 steps to gothic doorway, modern coach light to flanks, parapeted wall to either flank; oriel window above, replacement carved corbel, cusped traceried window surrounds, 4 lights, crenellated parapet; single light traceried window to 2nd floor; to right double height chapel, stained glass window, stone mullions and cusped surrounds, four tall lights, multifoil light to centre; 2-storey 2-bay to right, adjacent projecting castellated bay to ground floor, double light traceried window above; castellated chimneystacks to each section.

S ELEVATION: symmetrical 2-storey 3-bay, string courses; hood moulded windows, except projecting castellated bay to ground floor right; parapeted; chimney stack to right; single storey modern in-fill hiding earlier 2-storey elevation behind; bipartite window to ground floor right; oriental carved stone inset to right.

E ELEVATION: 2-storey 6-bay later wing with enclosed courtyard; modern glass corridor adjoining to ground floor; 2-storey single bay to right, bipartite windows, hoodmoulds.

N ELEVATION: early 1990's single storey ward extension; to right linking glass corridor to original house; 2-storey 3-bay section, projecting central bay, 4 lights, bipartite windows flanking; tower in re-entrant angle (see below); to right 3-storey 2-bay, parapeted.

TOWER: 3-storey single bay with setback 4th stage; castellated; hood moulded arched doorway, single light traceried window to each return and back; inscribed bell to left (see NOTES).

12-pane narrow timber sash and case windows (painted green to majority, bronze sashes in principal rooms), Piended slate roof with parapet, lead flashings, replacement metal ridge tiles; cast-iron guttering.

INTERIOR: some original doors; bracketed ceilings, vine cornicing; heavy carved newel posts, carved traceried timber balusters to main stairwell; arcaded timber carved gallery in chapel; bracketed ceiling on corbelled shafts, ornate bosses, Puginesque Minton floor tiles; dogleg servants' staircase with plain wooden hand rail, shaped iron balusters; murals by Julius Muller portray "The Life of Joseph and his Brethren" in former nursery; former chapel window, stained glass by Bell (see NOTES).

Statement of Interest

Beeslack was built for Sir John Cowan of Valleyfield Mill. Jonathan Anderson Bell was chosen as architect after he designed a school at Valleyfield Mill for Cowan's father. Bell trained under Thomas Rickman (d.1841), the famed gothic revivalist. Gladstone stayed at the house during his 1890 election campaign. Interesting features remain to exterior. Outside the tower, a bell sits on a large metal bracket and is inscribed "FECIT JOHN COWAN. ESQ BEESLACK HOUSE ALEX McGILL PENICUIK 1863."

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17827733

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

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments