Description

1743; rebuilt early 19th century with later additions and alterations. Irregular-plan stable court comprising near-symmetrical, 2-storey, 7-bay classical stable block with square-plan dovecot surmounting pedimented entrance; single storey, near square-plan block adjoined at rear with adjoining wall enclosing courtyard to NW; single storey, mono-pitched range enclosing courtyard to SE with adjoining single storey, 3-bay groom's cottage; single storey, 4-bay, rectangular-plan ancillary structure enclosing courtyard to NE. Squared and snecked tooled cream sandstone to front elevation stable block; sandstone ashlar dressings (droved in part). Harl-pointed whinstone and sandstone rubble to rear; droved cream rubble dressings. Raised base course to front elevation; quoin strips; raised margins; squat upper openings; sandstone mullions; projecting cills. Rubble quoins at rear; long and short rubble surrounds to openings.

STABLE BLOCK, SW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: slightly advanced central bay with basket-arched carriage pend at ground; tripartite window at 1st floor (narrow sidelights); pedimented gablehead above. Round-arched, tripartite niche with regularly-spaced pigeon holes centred in surmounting dovecot; iron weather-vane. 3-bay range recessed to left with boarded timber stable doors at ground at centre and in bay to right; boarded windows above; bay to outer left slightly advanced with boarded timber doors in basket-arched carriage opening at ground; tripartite window at 1st floor (narrow sidelights). 3-bay range recessed to right of centre with single windows at both floors at centre and in bay to left; bay to outer right slightly advanced with boarded timber doors in basket-arched carriage opening at ground; tripartite window at 1st floor (narrow sidelights). NE (REAR) ELEVATION: basket-arched carriage pend at ground; small single window above. Modern exterior stair to 2-leaf boarded timber door at 1st floor in bay to left. Gabled bay to outer left with single storey store adjoined at ground; timber door at 1st floor off-set to right of centre. Blocked window to right of entrance pend; single window at 1st floor in subsequent bay to right; projecting single storey block adjoined to outer right. SE (SIDE) ELEVATION: boarded window centred at ground; architraved sandstone plaque above; single window breaking eaves above. Mono-pitched store adjoined to right. NW (SIDE) ELEVATION: single window centred at 1st floor. Boarded window at ground in single storey block adjoined to left.

Small-pane glazing in timber sash and case/fixed windows; small skylight. Grey slate roof; brick apex and wallhead stacks at rear; circular can.

INTERIOR: not seen 1998.

GROOM'S COTTAGE: harl-pointed rubble; tooled sandstone dressings. Tooled quoins; tooled long and short surrounds to openings; timber mullions; projecting cills. SW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: single window centred in porch projecting at centre; timber panelled door on return to right; bipartite windows in flanking bays. NW (SIDE) ELEVATION: blank elevation to cottage. Single storey, mono-pitched stores recessed to outer left and right. NE (REAR) ELEVATION: blind elevation to cottage. Mono-pitched store recessed to outer left; rubble wall adjoined to right. 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows (missing in part). Grey slate roof; tall brick wallhead stacks; circular cans.

ANCILLARY STRUCTURE: squared and snecked tooled cream sandstone rubble; droved long and short sandstone dressings. SW (COURTYARD) ELEVATION: boarded timber doors with 3-pane fanlights in bays flanking centre and bay to outer right; lower, part-glazed boarded timber door to outer left. NE (REAR) ELEVATION: blind. NW (SIDE) ELEVATION: boarded timber hatch in bay to left. Coped rubble wall enclosing courtyard to right. Grey slate roof; small skylight.

GATEPIERS: square-plan, coursed cream sandstone piers flanking drive to front of stable block; corniced square caps; modern gate.

Statement of Interest

B Group comprises Belchester house, the Lodge, Stable Block and Walled Garden (see separate list entries). An interesting courtyard with a particularly impressive stable block. With its pedimented entrance, surmounting dovecot and basket-arched carriage openings, much of the original detailing remains intact. The plaque set in the side elevation is inscribed 'GT 1743 GD Renewed 1819 (?)'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17852147

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.

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