Description

Circa 1790, with many later alterations and additions. 2-storey classical house; irregularly fenestrated 4-stage tower (19th century) with balustraded roof. Cream-painted ashlar; grey harl with ashlar dressings to tower. Corniced eaves and blocking course. Urns and lead herons on eaves.

S ELEVATION: piend-roofed 2-storey 3-light bowed bay to right. Piend-roofed advanced bay to left: single storey balustraded 3-light bay at ground floor; tripartite window above. Later extension to left with 2 3-light jerkin-headed dormers.

E ELEVATION: bowed bay of original house obscured by later conservatory and other additions.

N ELEVATION: 2-storey extension forming approximate T-plan with original house abuts tower; windowless bowed bay at junction. Piend-roofed bowed bay to right obscured by later extension at ground.

Mixture of small-pane glazing and plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Grey slates. Corniced polygonal chimney stalks with circular cans to original house; remainder corniced stacks with circular cans.

BOUNDARY WALL AND GATEPIERS: high ashlar-coped rubble boundary wall. Coursed ashlar gateway with 4 corniced and platformed gatepiers; pedestrian gate to right.

Statement of Interest

Formerly known as Trinity Grove. Built by David Hunter of Blackness, whose son, Alexander, was a partner of Archibald Constable, Sir Walter Scott's publisher. Acquired in 1811 by Lord Provost Creech (publisher of the 2nd edition of Burns' poems). In 1818 Creech's trustees sold it to John Ballantyne, younger brother of Scott's partner James, who called it 'Harmony Hall.' There is a famous description of the house, garden, and Ballantyne's 'entertainments' there in Lockhart's biography of Scott.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56632234

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

• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)