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Summary

Description

Classical mansion with complex building chronology

currently (1988) unoccupied and partially gutted; recently

serving as grain store.

Late 17th century, 3-storey classical house on U-plan,

enlarged by addition, circa 1730, of substantial W wing

enclosing the plan. The different dates can be noted by

the differing eaves cornices and masonry; the N and S 3-bay

wings of the original house, ran between stacks to E and

W. In 1790 the canted gable projecting wing was

added to the centre of the E range of the earlier house.

Circa 1800, 2 2-storey, single room additions were placed

in the re-entrant angles formed by the canted projection;

the W wing was extended to N and S by 2-storey single

bay extensions. Random red rubble with ashlar margins

to the earlier house; red ashlar frontage to W wing with

grey ashlar dressings and centre bay.

W ELEVATION: symmetrical circa 1730 Baroque frontage.

Wide canted bay. Doorpiece removed and doorway

enlarged. Raised quoins to centre bay, outer angles and

Gibbsian surrounds to ground floor. Centrepiece with

fluted Ionic pilasters to aedicule window above doorway,

with segmental pediment; consoled cill to 2nd floor

window, flanked by decorative scroll carving and with

richly carved armorial apron; concave oculi with moulded

surrounds above 1st floor windows in splayed bays; blind

arched heads with Keystones to 2nd floor windows, rise

into die parapet. Decorative wrought-iron balcony remaining

on the 1st floor splay to right by Thomas Chalmers. 3 bays to

to each side; pedimented and central segmental 1st floor

windows. Consoled urns abd blank aprons. Blank slightly

recessed 2-storey outer bays (circa 1800).

E ELEVATION: tall 1st floor windows and shallow bracketted

balcony to canted E projection (1790) with eaves cornice

and parapet. Flanking extensions (circa 1800) with

ground and 1st floor windows. Shallow gables with apex

stacks behind, formerly closing to E wing of earlier house.

N AND S ELEVATIONS: almost mirrored elevations. 3

recessed bays to earlier house at centre. 3 piend roofed

dormers at S. Segmentally arched fanlight above door

and window bay off-centre to left of N elevation.

Tripartite windows to 1st floors of advanced 2-storey

outer bays (circa (1800) with 2 ground floor lights to N

bays.

Originally small pane glazing to sash and case windows,

some retained in ruinous state. Moulded coping to broad

ashlar stacks. Grey slates.

INTERIOR: Robert Adam interior work taken out and sold in

mid 1950s. Marble chimneypiece retained in ruinous

state; cantilevered stair remaining. Panelled room with

early stone chimneypiece still intact. Adam cornices

partially retained below remains of coved ceiling brackets.

Segmentally arched openings in N and S extensions to 1st

floor of W wing 2 interesting ceilings with clay tiled

construction revealed with timber strips and metal

strapping possibly a variant of Lord Stanhope's method

of fire proof construction.

PAVILION WINGS: sited to NW and SW of house, originally

linked by coped quadrant walls, since removed U-plan

court before house, 3 less widely spaced bays to W.

Random red rubble with raised margins and quoins to

main ground floor openings. Smaller 1st floor lights

under eaves. U-plans opening to outer direction with 2

segmentally arched fanlights above doorways at centre of N

pavilion; piend roofed outbuildings inserted in S pavilion

court. Broad ashlar stacks set at inner angles. Small pane

glazing to sash and case window originally. Slate piend roof

retained on S pavilion.

Statement of Special Interest

Later 2-storey farm buildings sited to NW of N pavilion not

included. Square plan piend roofed game larder with ridge

ventilator in grounds to NW Circa 1730 work commissioned by

William Nisbet of Dirleton, whose family continued to own

the house to commission the Adam work. Robert Adam made

drawings for 4 ceilings, and plans for Dining Room, Drawing

Room, Library, Rotunda, Saloon, staircase and balustrade.

Adam added a porch to W entrance, replaced in Victorian years

by pedimented Baroque doorpiece. Plasterwork ornament by

Mr Coney. Grounds around the house formerly landscaped,

currently used as farm lands. 2 gate lodges listed

separately.

References

Bibliography

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