Description

1806 with later additions. 2-storey, 5-bay near symmetrical, classical house; single storey wing adjoining house to W; non-traditional single storey extension adjoining house to E. Cream sandstone coursed rubble with ashlar dressings to principal and W elevations and part of rear elevation to W; rubble elsewhere. Base course; advanced cills to ground floor windows; cill course to 1st floor windows.

N (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: recessed, round-arched doorways to advanced, penultimate bays; to right, tripartite doorway, panelled door and umbrella fanlight with single window above; to left, doorway partially blocked to accommodate modern, glass-panelled door and enlarged window above; regular fenestration to both floors in remaining bays; box dormer to right. Single storey wing adjoining to W with door to outer right;

2 windows to left.

S ELEVATION: doorway to penultimate right with modern, cast-iron porch; stair window between floors above; full-height, 3-light painted, canted window to right; single windows to both floors in remaining bays. Bowed dormer to left.

Predominantly 12-pane, timber, sash and case windows; plate glass to canted bay; 6-pane enlarged window. Grey slate piended roof; corniced wallhead and ridge stacks.

GATEPIERS: 2 pairs of tall, square-section, corniced gatepiers to E and W ends of high boundary wall.

Statement of Interest

William Blackwood, publisher lived in the house from 1806-1830. Modern extension to E. Later residents included Sir Wilfred Lawson (English politician and temperance leader, 1867-1901); Jane Binning Usher (daughter of Andrew Usher) and her artist, explorer husband William Burn Murdoch (from 1901). Murdoch used house as his studio, incorporating the enlarged window to the N and subdivided property. Used as a Girls' school during the 1950's.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56632180

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

• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair