Description

Mid 18th century, possibly earlier. 2-storey, 4-bay, rectangular-plan house. Later rear additions. Pebble-dash; ashlar surrounds to windows and doors; cavetto eaves course and E vertical margin.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical 3-bays to house. Central door; moulded, lugged doorpiece with keystone; flanking windows. 3 1st floor windows hug eaves, centred above ground floor openings. Extra bay to E; 2 garage doors; 1st floor window above.

W ELEVATION: attached to Undercliff.

N ELEVATION: advanced section to far left; ground floor door to garage to left; blocked catslide dormer above. Lean-to roof provides single storey porch to left. Ground floor door to kitchen to near centre. 1st floor timber lean-to addition to centre, 1 window, door to right. Metal steps lead from door to garden; cast-iron balusters. 2-storey bathroom and store later wing to far right; ground floor door and 1st floor window in left return.

E ELEVATION: attached to Wrights House.

12-pane timber sash and case windows. Roof light at rear. Timber panelled 2-leaf entrance door; narrow fanlight. Pitched slate roof. Asphalt roof to rear bathroom extension. Coped ridge stack (E gable of house); coped gable apex stack to E bay; polygonal cans.

INTERIOR: central flight of stone stairs opposite entrance door. Flagstones to lobby floor. Cupboard in room to W, left of fireplace hides steps and former interlinking door to Undercliff. Kitchen to right of entrance door; central window; blocked window to W of kitchen window, blocked door to E. Door links kitchen to garage. Rear wall cut through for access to timber corridor at 1st floor; thickness of wall visible. Coved ceilings at 1st floor. Early Victorian grate to fireplace in bedroom above kitchen. Murals on three of the walls of this room have been uncovered (January 2006). Possibly dating from late 19th century, they depict scenes of Culross. Late Victorian grate to fireplace in bedroom above garage. Panelled shutters in window splays; window seats.

WALLS

Low stugged stone wall; ashlar coping extends from Undercliff wall to front; to left of garage doors. Replacement metal gate. 3 spur stones. Stone steps at rear of house lead from ground floor to garden. Stone steps at rear of garden lead up onto parapet walk beyond rubble and brick wall.

Statement of Interest

This was a former 3-bay house (possibly single storey cottage). The extra bay to the E may have been a forge/separate accommodation. The taller upper storey was added circa 1840 and the timber corridor late 19th century. There was a large range in the garage, possibly a former forge/servants quarters. It is possible that the West Green was the area of the burgh's forges, (Balgownie is said to mean 'township of the smiths'). According to Beveridge, a hammerman named Blaw lived here and Wrights House is situated next door. Iron baking girdles were a famous Culross product and Culross had the monopoly on their manufacture from late 16th century until 1727. The internal communication between this and the adjoining Undercliff is interesting, and there was also 1st floor access between the two houses. This is a feature which is seen in other houses in Culross, for example, Low Causeway, Pear Tree Cottage and House (J Laing). The 2-leaf door is also a typical feature found in many of the small Culross houses. For brief history of Culross Burgh see Culross, The Cross, The Study.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17804300

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

• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House