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Summary

Description

Original design by James Smith and Alexander McGill,

1699-1728, for classical mansion with pavilions;

complicated succession of subsequent building phases.

Pavilions erected 1699-1710, main house 1710-15, with

interior work and decoration 1720-28; addition by

William Adam, circa 1729-30 of platform roof and

pedimented frontispiece, and interior decoration, circa

1734-46; Robert Adam, 1761, interior addition of saloon,

and 1788-90, new frontispiece and carriage ramp; Robert

Brown, 1830, removed W pavilion and circa 1838-39 added

new porte cochere to W, transferring entrance to side

position, and carried out a series of interior schemes of

redecoration.

2-storey, attic and basement mansion with 2-storey

pavilions. Channelled sandstone ashlar, unusually to

whole elevation, cill courses, channelled window

architraves and moulded cornice.

N ELEVATION: 9 bays. Double carriage ramp crossing

7 centre bays, with ashlar terraced recess at centre.

Pedimented tripartite frontispiece rising well above eaves

with giant Ionic pilasters from 1st floor; round-arched

windows to each bay of principal floor (in recessed panels

divided by paterae) and 1st floor (with balustraded

aprons); rectangular panels with swags carved above 1st

floor windows and armorial in tympanum; urn finials to

pediment. Regular windows in flanking bays.

W ELEVATION: 6-bay. Deep pedimented porte cochere

projecting from 2 bays at centre with ashlar piers, paired

to W, simple armorial carved in tympanum, and urn

finials; partially glazed to form enclosed porch. Regular

fenestration. Stone balustrade with dies before basement

recess.

S ELEVATION: 9-bay; 3 centre bays breaking eaves in

pedimented attic storey. Round-arched doorway to

principal floor at centre approached by short flight of

stone steps; tall windows flanking; regular windows in

remaining bays and round-arched window flanked by

square windows in central attic urn finials.

EAST PAVILIONS: 2-storey piend-roofed rectangular pavilion

with 3 bays to S, joined to house by flat-roofed 1 x 1

linking block, with balustrade to N. Taller, 2-bay ogival

roofed pavilion adjoined to latter at N, with oculi, small

windows under moulded cornice, ogival ridge pagoda;

finials above main roof.

Small-pane and multi-pane glazing patterns. Piend and

platform roof with swept eaves; grey slates and

scalloped lead flashings; attic windows recessed in roof

pitch on each elevation. Corniced ashlar stacks.

INTERIOR: original plan form rearranged. Decoration

largely by William and Robert Adam and Robert Brown,

with late 19th century alterations. Dining Room, William

Adam, with fine Rococo chimneypiece and Ionic pilasters.

Plasterwork by Joseph Enzwer and assistants in staircase

and dining room. Saloon by William and Robert Adam,

outstading design, comprising coved and coffered ceiling

and paintings by William Delacour, circa 1761. Decorative

blue and white tiled dairy, with 2-tier marble shelves.

Brown, 1830, decorated new entrance hall and made

alterations to Garden Parlour, including new chimneypiece

and coffered ceiling.

Statement of Special Interest

Yester includes stock motifs of James Smith, such as the

scallopped flashings and channelled masonry. The Gifford gates

and lodges and those at Danskine, are listed separately, as

are the Stables, Gardener's House and Walled Garden, Yester

Bridge and tower, and St Bothans Chapel. On the lawns by house, lies

the former clock-tower from Caledonian Station, Edinburgh,

in kiosk-form, introduced in 1970s. Yester Castle is a

Scheduled Monument.

References

Bibliography

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