Description

Later 18th century house largely rebuilt and incorporated
into large 1881 Baronial mansion. Asymmetrical elevations
with lower 2-storey central block and taller advanced angle
bays, crowstepped gables, corbelled turrets, tall coped
stacks. An important internal feature is an elaborately
carved piscina/aumbry reset in hall. 2-storeys, attic and
basements. Bull-faced granite walling, polished margins and
quoins, thinly roll-moulded openings; some pinned rubble
walling to centre block indicates 18th-century work.
S elevation: 5-bay, taller advanced gabled end bays, that to
right with moulded sandstone neo-Jacobean pilastered
doorpiece, panel above inscribed WD 1851, RD 1921.
Double-leaf timber boarded doors with elaborately decorative
hinges. Over door at 1st, panel dated 1881, above this
projecting corbel-string course, corbelled canted oriel set
in gable. To extreme left bay, corbelled angle turrets flank
gable. Central 3 bays lower 2-storey with projecting canted
window to ground left. Deep plain parapet with false cannon
gargoyles. Windows single light or bipartite (tripartite to
ground left). Sash and case with 2-pane or plate glass
glazing.
Other elevations asymmetrical and similarly detailed with
full-height or corbelled round turrets with conical slate
roofs and lead spike finials. Band course over ground,
partial corbel course over 1st. All gables crowstepped with
stone finial, slate roofs, tall coped wallhead and axial
stacks.
Interior: mostly circa 1880 with some later details. Good
panelled stair hall with carved timber balusters, good carved
timber neo-Jacobean chimneypieces. Entrance hall with reset
medieval piscina/aumbry and mock baronial stone chimneypiece.

Statement of Interest

B group with Orchardton Stables. Original house built circa

1761 for Robert Maxwell. The initials WDRD over door are

those of William Douglas Robinson-Douglas, b1851, d1921. He

succeeded to Orchardton 1878 and the panel 1881 records the

date of his additions to the house. The architect is unknown

but interior and exterior details suggest the Wardrop and

Reid partnership (qv Kinnerdy House, Angus).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Orchardton House at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17792581

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

• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)