Description

Series of buildings built around courtyard to N of Drylaw house with stables range at S arm of L-plan block nearest house. Secondary buildings forming S part of courtyard mostly ruinous. Date uncertain, but probably incorporating the pre-1718 Drylaw House in the L-plan block, and re-using earlier fragments of various dates.

S range of L-plan block: probably incorporating the 17th century drylaw House; sometime in use as stables, but probably in partial domestic use, at least, after early 18th century. 2-storey; pitched roof; pair end stacks (with thack-stanes, - ?originally thatched); rubble-built with ashlar dressings; aymmetrically placed chamfered openings. S front: 2 doors at ground (right with later lintel), window at 1st to right and large opening to left, originally a door reached by forestair (now lost), with bowtell moulded threshold. ?Entrance turret behind in SE re-entrant angle facing court probably forming part of early jamb (early door, roughly chamfered, red sandstone panel above). Floor-height at 1st floorlevel has been raised: originally lower, in line with fine chimneypieces in E and W gables (that at W perhaps mid 17th century in date, finely detailed with deep cavetto moulded surround, centre keystone, pair swags in frieze, deep moulded cornice; that at E plainer , bolection moulded). E gable has exposed rubble course at wallhead, adjacent to the site of a further building on SE corner, lost now but for wall-fragment (continuing S wall of 2-storey S range) in which a large triangular shaped lintel with a pair carved gargoyle heads of late medieval date has been incorporated (see note). Single storey building attached forming L-plan to N (byre - but no vents); 3 chamfered doors on W elevation, 3rd door very narrow; small blocked window to right. E elevation has 2 openings, both later alterations; deep curved angle at S end of E wall is difficult to interpret, possibly remains of a stair turret. Secondary cross-wall at N (not keyed in). 2 stone channels/gutters in floor inside. Small compartment attached at N now ruinous, but incorporating at base-course a bolection moulded lintel.

N detached block: of same date as L-plan block.

2 compartments, originally 2-storey with chamfered openings. Large aSHLAR QUOINS> Single door in W elevation, 3 in E (relieving arches above E doors; remains of 3rd door to E narrower). Attached ruinous building to N (not keyed in).

W block: (coach house/garage): plain square-plan block with modern roof.Small detached building to E of stables court; rectangular-plan with lean-to slab roof. Possibly icehouse.

Statement of Interest

Late medieval gargoyles possibly surviving from old house of Drylaw, destroyed 1544.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17791959

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

• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide