Description
David Bryce, Architect, 1847-68. Scots Baronial mansion house incorporating circa 1780 square-plan 3-bay house encased
and extended to south, 1847/8, further more elaborate
additions to north 1855, mullioned conservatory to west
1855/6. Low service court to north west also 1855, extended
1868. Mostly 2 storeys, with raised basements and attics.
Stugged pink ashlar; polished dressings, corbelling,
crow-stepped gables, pedimented dormer heads bartizans and
coped stacks. Square-headed single and mullioned plate-glass
sash windows. 1847/8 work comprises 3-bay south elevation,
canted window at left (with steps added 1855) corbelled to
square above, and gabled; porch added to east elevation of
original house, turret in re-entrant angle corbelled to
square at upper level. 1854 baronial wing modelled on tower
house with bartizans and corbelled parapet beneath east
gable; 2 north-facing doors, east-facing oriel, stepped
corbel table and corbelled gable at west end of north wall.
Bartizans (1 square, 1 round) on west elevation flanking
original house. Slate roofs throughout curved or pyramidal,
and finialed over bartizans. Conservatory extends 4 gableted
bays to west with angle buttresses and finials. Interior:
main library in earlier building with fitted bookshelves
and panelling to deeply-set reveals; Sir Hugh Gladstone's
ornithological library housed in smaller library room;
staircase and gallery with turned wooden balusters and
pendants; some timber and marble chimneypieces and decorative
ceiling plasterwork. Terrace balustrate and steps at east,
west and at south.