Description

A large square-plan walled garden built to the northeast of Noranside House, likely to have been built in the early 19th century as part of estate improvements. The walled garden has tall rubble and coped red sandstone walls with tooled stone dressings. The principal entrance to the walled gardens is at the centre of the east wall. This entrance has later brick rybats and early 21st century cast iron gates.

In accordance with Section 1(4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: the gardener's cottage, store buildings and greenhouses to the east.

Statement of Interest

Located to the northeast of Noranside House, this early 19th century walled garden is an important ancillary component of the Noranside estate and it survives largely in its original form. It forms part of group of estate ancillary buildings, some of which are also listed buildings, and it contributes to our understanding of the arrangement and working of this small estate in the 19th century. It is relatively unaltered retaining its high walls and square plan form.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: the gardener's cottage, store buildings and greenhouses to the east.

Age and Rarity

Noranside House was built for John Mill, a London merchant, who had acquired the estate of Fearn from the Carnegies of Southesk in 1766. His son, John Mill, extended the house and improved the estate in the early-mid 19th century with the addition of a stableblock to the southwest and walled garden to the northwest. Constructed on the banks of the River Noran all the buildings are orientated towards the south and southwest to take advantage of the views across the valley.

In 1914 the site became a sanatorium for the treatment of patients with tuberculosis. Additional buildings were constructed on the estate including wards, laundry and boiler house and nurses accommodation. From 1963 until October 2011 the site was used as a young offenders' institute.

Noranside Walled Garden first appears on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1862, published 1865) in the same square footprint as it exists today (2018).

Walled gardens are important yet common ancillaries of high status country houses or smaller houses within substantial landholdings and surviving examples range in date from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The walled kitchen garden was particularly important in Scotland where a harsh climate and unfavourable growing conditions prevailed and evolved as part of the typology of the fortified Scottish castle.

The produce would provide for the family and estate staff, with hardy crops generally grown in the open areas of the garden, fruit trees trained up the walls, and heated glasshouses to grow more delicate and exotic produce. The walled garden would have had a dedicated gardener and a gardener's cottage would often be located nearby.

In Scotland, important gardens had been established at its great houses from the late medieval and early Renaissance periods (15th to 16th centuries). As the interest in gardening and the science behind it grew, it became more common from around the 17th century to find a designed garden, often comprising a walled garden and a doocot at lesser houses and estates.

Early walled gardens, associated with pre- and post-Reformation period castles or lairds houses, are commonly found in close proximity to the house, forming part of a formal courtyard or enclosure of the house. By the 19th century walled gardens were typically located further away from the house. Walled gardens declined after the Second World War as fresh produce was becoming more accessible through imports.

The majority of surviving walled gardens date to the 18th and 19th centuries. Walled gardens will be considered of special interest in listing terms if they form part of a wider estate and often if the principal house survives. Over 750 walled gardens are listed and they are usually a component of an estate listing along with other ancillary structures. Some are listed in their own right. Examples which survive largely as they were first built are increasingly rare.

Noranside Walled Garden is not an early surviving example and is of a standard layout and form. It is of interest in listing terms as an early 19th century walled garden that survives largely unaltered. It is an important ancillary component which is functionally related to Noranside House and contributes to its special architectural and historic interest.

Architectural or Historic Interest

Interior

N/A.

Plan form

The plan form of the walled garden remains generally as shown on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. Its square plan form is a typical layout for walled gardens of all periods.

Technological excellence or innovation, material or design quality

The design of the walled garden is typical for a walled garden. It is functional in its simple square layout and is plain with no architectural embellishments (such as bee boles, finials of dressed stone).

Setting

Noranside Walled Garden is an important ancillary component of a small country estate landscape, dating from the mid-18th century to the early 19th century. It is sited some distance from the house, which is typical for early 19th century walled gardens. The survival of the gardener's cottage to the east of the walled garden is of interest as part of a group of functional buildings which contribute to the setting of the estate. At the centre of the estate is Noranside House (LB12329) with a stable block (LB12330) at the southwest.

The walled garden is secluded by shelterbelts of trees and despite its high walls it cannot be seen from the house, the access drive or public roads surrounding the estate.

Regional variations

There are no known regional variations.

Close Historical Associations

There are no known associations with a person or event of national importance at present (2018).

Statutory address and listed building record revised in 2018. Previously listed as 'Noranside Walled Garden'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77782331

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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