Description

1779 to 1785, 3-storey classical mansion incorporating
foundations of earlier house, with vaulted cellar, almost
doubled in size and rendered asymmetrical by enlargement
circa 1860, including low entrance and extensive kitchen
offices. Red rubble sandstone, formerly harled, with grey
ashlar dressings to original house, with squared and snecked
stone for Victorian work. Raised base and band course and
rusticated quoins. Moulded cornice with die balustrade.
N (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: (circa 1859) 5-bay. Centre and
flanking bays to left with tall ground floor windows; 1st and
2nd floor windows diminishing in size. Doric columned,
pedimented ashlar porch straddling 2 bays to right with
single windows each floor above.
S ELEVATION: (1779) 5-bay. 3 bays at centre in broad canted
projection with French windows at centre and tall 1st floor
windows with wrought-iron balconies. 2nd floor lights
diminishing in size as in flanking bays. Armorial tablet in
balustrade above centre bay.
W ELEVATION: full-height bowed bay with 3 windows to each
floor to right originally centrally placed; additional 2 wide
bays to N. 2 bays to left (circa 1859) with tall ground floor
windows diminishing at 1st and 2nd floors.
E (SERVICE) ELEVATION: full-height bowed bay of original 1779
house to left with basement cellar door, blank ground floor
bay at centre, blind windows at 1st and 2nd floor at centre.
Irregular piend roofed projections from later house
extension, including 7-bay wing. Single storey outhouse
projections to left and right of service court.
12-pane glazing pattern to sash and case windows with
Victorian plate glass sashes to ground floor windows. Moulded
coping to broad ashlar dressed stacks, 2 pairs linked on
original house; decorative cans. Piended slate roofs with
lead flashings.
INTERIOR: exceptionally fine interior decoration. Stone
flagged hall to original house with cantilevered stone stair,
classical plaster medallion and exuberant classical
plasterwork in coombed ceiling above. Strong Adamesque style
throughout. Pedimented doors leading off hall at centre to
oval rooms in canted bays. Marble chimneypieces, one with
tablet of Bacchus and Ariadne by Flaxman. Plasterwork by
James Nisbet; ceilings in late Adam form. New hall and dining
room added at ground in circa 1859 work.
Partly terraced garden to S with stone steps. Formerly
lavishly planted grounds.

Statement of Interest

Stables and lodges listed separately. 1779-85 work by 2nd

baronet Sir Hew Dalrymple (1712-90), who had comtemplated

work on earlier house in 1753, never realised. Architect

referred to as 'Mr Peacock' may be James Peacock of London

who advocated such plan and decoration types in Oikidia

(Nutshells) circa 1785. Alternatively, it could be Alexander

Peacock of Edinburgh, possibly acting merely as clerk of

works. The possibility that Hew Dalrymple acted as gentleman

architect cannot be ruled out, following examples in London

area and Taylor's work such as Asgill House, from Vitruvius

Britannicus. David Hamilton provided a plan for later work,

circa 1808, not realised. The wrought-ironwork could be by

Thomas Chalmers, as at Archerfield. Circa 1859 work obscured

original pedimented door flanked by Venetian windows.

Architect for Victorian work unknown; executed for 6th

baronet, Sir Hew Dalrymple.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17569510

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

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide