Description

David Bryce, dated 1865; David Robertson, 1878, extension to W; J Walker Todd, 1913, further additions to N and W and laundry block to rear. Large, 7-bay (arranged 3-3-1), 2-storey and attic, Elizabethan-style irregular-plan, multi-gabled villa (now subdivided) with further additions in two stages to the West Coursed snecked ashlar with chamfered margins; whinstone rubble with sandstone margins to rear. Advanced base course; partial eaves course. Mullioned and transomed windows. Dated, gabled, shouldered-arch entrance porch to E with later infilled margined door surround and glazing, flanked by stone urns on chamfered plinths. Advanced gabled bay to right of S elevation with curved corbelled corner details. Carved stone plaque with ship motif inscribed 'Disce Pati'. 20th century sun-room to SW corner.

Predominantly plain glazing in timber sash and case windows; square-pane leaded metal-framed windows to W section. Timber entrance door with iron studs. Graded grey slate roofs; tall corniced ashlar triple diamond end stacks; moulded skews with piended skewputts and apex finials. Blank square tympanum plaques. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: fine interior decorative scheme throughout the three phases of the building's development. Details to original house include Adam style fireplace to drawing room, main stair with decorative cast-iron balustrade, 6-panel doors and decorative timber shutters. Central section of house with large dining room with marble insert chimneypiece, panelled shutters and doors with diamond details. Decorative plaster cornices. 1913 W section with Lorimer-style former billiard room with curved ceiling and banded plasterwork; corniced and pilastered, panelled timber fireplace recess incorporating seats and stone mantelpiece with delft tiles. Delft tile mantelpieces to upper floor.

WASHHOUSE AND GARAGE: 2-storey, L-plan, gabled, rendered wash house to rear of house with adjoining steps on steep ground rising to rear. Boarded doors and multi-pane timber casement windows. Single storey stores adjacent. Rendered single garage with stone gable end stack and lean-to timber sun room attached.

Statement of Interest

The former Caerlee House was built as a relatively small villa by the renowned Baronial architect David Bryce (1803-1876) and underwent further stages of development in 1878 and again in 1913 by Walker Todd (1884-1944). Caerlee has some fine stonework detailing and ornate interior details. As a whole the building represents several stages of development which complement each other well. The 1913 billiard room has a very fine interior.

The stone plaque beside the entrance depicting a ship is carved in particularly fine detail; the inscription 'disce pati' translates as 'learn to suffer'.

The additions made by David Robertson were commissioned by Mr William Duncan and the J Walker Todd additions were commissioned by local manufacturer H Norman Ballantyne of Caerlee Mill who then owned the building. The house was divided into two in the 1980's to form Easter and Wester Caerlee.

St Mungo's Well, a former mineral spring lies in the grounds to the W of the house. It position is framed by a small carved stone archway inscribed 'Ave St Mungo'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77780740

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 Care and Repair
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)