Description

The monument comprises the remains of an ornamental canal lying in the designed landscape associated with Cammo House. It lies in the grounds of Cammo Estate, SW of Cammo House, near Edinburgh.

The monument comprises the remains of an early 18th-century ornamental canal some 140m long, running ESE-WNW. A sandstone paved platform base to the NE is probably the remains of a timber terminal pavilion with portico, and it has a central hole which was presumably for a column base.

Sir John Clerk of Penicuik acquired Cammo Estate in 1710 and sold it in 1726. In that time he planted the landscape and almost certainly designed the canal. The canal may relate to a cascade drawing of 1714 (SRO GD 18/1775). A similar canal was designed by Clerk at Mavisbank.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible remains and an area around them in which traces of associated structures and evidence of constructional methods may be expected to survive. It is rectangular with maximum dimensions of 150m ENE-WSW by 20m as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a well-preserved example of the work of the architect and landowner Sir John Clerk. Clerk produced gardens of exceptionally high quality and the preservation of the surviving fragments will allow studies which may add substantially to our knowledge and appreciation of this important aspect of Scottish lordly life.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

References:

Colvin, H. (1978) A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 219.

McWilliam, C. (1984) Edinburgh, 589-90.

Tait, A. (1980) The Landscape Garden in Scotland, 21, 28, 29n66.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland