Description

Originally 17th century laird's house, pavilions added circa 1735, extended to E late 18th century, altered circa 1800 and 1835, modernisations (Mary Tindall), 1970s.

3-storey mansion house, essentially 7-bay, with 2 flanking pavilions. 4 western bays represent original house, as altered, 3 eastern bays from late 18th century extension. Harled and white painted with exposed sandstone margins.

MAIN HOUSE:

S (REAR) ELEVATION: 7-bay, regular. 4 western bays with door and

3 windows to ground, 4 windows (enlarged 19th century) to 1st and 2nd floor, latter breaking eaves in gabled dormerheads. 3 eastern bays with door (French-window style) and 2 windows to ground, 3 windows to 1st and 2nd.

N (FRONT) ELEVATION: western (older) section with 3 bays, including projecting gabled stair tower to E; 2 westmost bays regular, with

2 windows (enlarged late 18th century) to ground, 1st and 2nd, the last breaking eaves in gabled dormerheads; stairtower with 2 stair windows, topped by blind arrow slit in gable; small entrance porch (1835) in angle of return, ashlar, chamfered doorway with arch, 6-panelled door, bipartite window, moulded cornice. Eastern section (behind screen wall - see E pavilion below) irregular, windows on 3 levels, 2 stair towers, lean-to and small extensions; western stair tower piended, 2 stair windows plus tiny windows to ground; eastern stair tower gabled with single small window; lean-to with door, plain boarded, and single window.

Fenestration timber sash and case, mostly 12-pane, some enlarged to 15-pane at 1st floor. Roof in graded grey Scotch slates, skews crowstepped to western section (including dormerheads) and plain to E; 5 axial stacks, 3 to W harled with ashlar margins and projecting copes, 3 to E plain harled, plain cans.

GLASSHOUSE: large lean-to glasshouse adjoining main house to E, modern glazed entrance.

E PAVILION (THE COTTAGE): 2-storey, 3-bay, symmetrical. Harled with exposed margins, rusticated quoins, eaves course and cornice. W elevation (facing entrance drive) with 2 bipartite windows to ground (enlargements) flanking central blind window, 3 windows to 1st; N elevation with 2 windows to both floors; S elevation irregular with lean-to; E elevation with 3 windows to 1st, much altered to ground with modern extension, conservatory and doorway.

Linked to main house by quadrant screen wall; harled with ashlar cope and exposed margins; central doorway flanked by 2 round-arched niches (see mirror below).

Fenestration in timber sash and case, mostly 8-pane with horns (replacements?). Piended roof in graded grey Scotch slates, central stack harled with projecting cope and plain cans.

W PAVILION (LITTLE LETHAM): 2-storey, 3-bay, symmetrical. Harled with exposed margins, rusticated quoins, eaves course and cornice. E elevation (facing entrance drive) with 3 windows to both floors, central windows blind; N elevation with 2 windows to both floors,

1 blind to 1st floor; W elevation with 2 small windows to 1st floor,

2 small central windows to ground with round arch, keystone and impost blocks, flanked to S by recent doorway and to N by recent piended porch with door; S elevation irregular and including recent conservatory.

Linked to main house by quadrant screen wall detailed as above.

Fenestration predominantly timber sash and case, 8-pane with horns, but smaller windows with top opening etc. Piended roof in graded grey Scotch slate, central stack harled with projecting cope and plain cans.

GATEPIERS: circa 1735. Outer gates (map ref 494 737) with 2 sets of tall piers, rusticated with moulded cornices (ball finials missing?); each set linked by quadrant rubble wall, inner piers supported by scrolled buttresses. Inner gates similar but shorter, with ball finials and decorative wrought-iron gates.

Statement of Interest

The nearby steading, originally of the early 18th century and now known as West Letham, was much altered and modernised as a dwelling by Mary Tindall, architect, in 1971. An associated dovecot (map ref 495 733), now very ruinous, is of 18th century double-lectern type.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17805881

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

• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)