Description

Extensive, multi-period, country house developed substantially from early 18th century Palladian-style villa and which is likely to contain 16th century fabric. Roughly L-plan with U-plan service courtyard to N. Villa to S with Edward Blore 1830-32 neo-tudor extensions to E and N; 1877 extension to N and substantial reordering by Walter Schomberg Scott in 1961-3 with extension to W, including formal hall and main entrance. Integral chapel (1960). Predominantly 2-storey, with some wallhead dormers. 18th century section harled rubble with ashlar margins; 19th century sections, squared and coursed stugged sandstone; 20th century wing, rendered with narrow ashlar margins. Hoodmoulding to Blore section. Variety of window openings: some tripartite, some round- or segmental-arched.

S (GARDEN) ELEVATION: symmetrical 2-storey, 3-bay former villa with flanking concave quadrants linking single-storey, 3-bay pavilions with canted bay windows to S. Blocking course to house with stone ball finials. To right, linking wing leads to 1830-32 extension with bay window at S.

E ELEVATION: 5-bay 1830-32 wing to left with gabled bay to far left with oriel window. Advanced, lower, U-plan gable-ended service court to right with linking single-storey range. Further single-storey linking corridor to 3-stage square-plan balustraded (1877) water tower to far right with square and pepperpot turrets to corners.

N (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 8-bay, double-height 1961-3 extension linked to later piended roof extension. Blocking course. Off-centre moulded doorcase with internal part-glazed timber entrance door. Connects to 19th century wing to left which advances N and leads to open entrance to service courtyard.

Variety of glazing patterns in timber frames. Tall, multi-astragalled timber windows to 1960s great hall. Other windows predominantly multi-astragalled or plate glass timber sash and case; some casement. Some piended roofs. Grey slates. Wallhead and gable end chimney stacks: some with tall, polygonal and grouped diamond-shaft chimney pots. Some decorative iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: fine decorative interior dating from the various building periods, partly remodelled by Schomberg Scott in 1960s and with fine 1960s great hall. Great hall with shallow timber vaulted ceiling, timber floor and staircase and gallery with wrought iron balustrade by Thomas Hadden of Edinburgh. Ground floor of 18th century house reconstructed to form library with colourful ceiling paper by Schomberg Scott. Smaller rooms above. Dining room with 19th century plaster panelled ceiling and classical fire surround. Drawing room with high coved ceiling and 18th century decorative fire surround with fluted columns and frieze. Other rooms with decorative cornicing, fire surrounds.

CHAPEL (IN N WING): (remodelled from former servants' wing, Schomberg Scott, 1960.) Timber panelling with carved timber screen to W. Carved timber statues of Border saints.

BELL TOWER to NW: sited on small rise. 19th century, square-plan, battered bell-tower surmounted by open bellcote. Rubble with ashlar margins.

GARDEN TERRACES (to S and W): later 19th century series of mainly rubble sandstone falling terraces to S of house with buttressed retaining wall at N and circular parapetted bastion to W. Curved wall to further W leads to integral brick ornamental alcove with flanking pedestrian entrances with decorative iron gates. Shallow steps with stone balustrades with ball finials lead to the River Teviot.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation

Source: Historic Environment Scotland