Description

Circa 1825. Single storey and attic, stepped down basement to rear, 5 bay; U plan, with screen wall enclosing courtyard, Gothic stable block with later modifications, now used as a Girl Guide Hostel. Coursed droved sandstone ashlar to SW; coursed squared tooled sandstone rubble with droved dressings to remainder. Base course; chamfered reveals; hood moulds; ashlar coping to wallheads; octagonal angle turrets with decorative finials.

SW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical, 5 bay. Screen wall to centre 3 bays; canted out and stepped up to centre; 4 light unglazed, traceried, Tudor arched window to centre, with Tudor arches leading to courtyard in flanking bays; stepped gables between octagonal turrets to outer left and right, with central Tudor arched 2 light traceried windows; modern fire escape doors reached by metal steps to each bay. Courtyard: 3 storey tower to centre of NE range; infilled Tudor arch with glazed timber replacement door to centre; Tudor arched window to attic floor; octagonal tower above with quatrefoil recessed to 3 sides, SW face originally a painted clock, now boarded up; machicolated parapet, with carved finials to angles; regular fenestration to flanking bays; infilled Tudor arch to left; gabled dormers to attic floor; 2 leaf glazed timber door with 4 pane fanlight to right of NW interior elevation; bipartite window to left; gabled dormers to attic. 3 infilled Tudor arches to SE interior elevation, with windows in 1st and 3rd; window to outer left bay; 2 gabled dormers to attic.

SE ELEVATION: asymmetrical, 4 bay; stepped gabled bay advanced to penultimate bay to left; 2 windows to ground; single window centred to attic; single window to ground of flanking bay to left; window to ground of flanking bay to right; 2 windows to attic; turret to angle with outer right, without finial; single window in bay to outer right.

NE ELEVATION: asymmetrical; random rubble with droved dressings; irregular fenestration to ground; 2 boarded timber doors to right of basement, with small rectangular opening to left.

NW ELEVATION: asymmetrical, 4 bay; 2 windows in bay to outer left; central door to basement below; regular fenestration to remaining bays; bipartite window breaking eaves in penultimate bay to left.

Predominantly small pane timber sash and case windows, many replacement. Graded grey slate roof with later skylight windows and lead ridges. Cast iron rainwater goods. Coped gablehead stack to right of SW elevation; 4 later ridge ventilators.

INTERIOR: not seen 1997.

Statement of Interest

James Dewar was responsible the building of this lively stable block, and also for the layout of the country park in the early 19th century. Sadly he died before he had chance to build a new house to accompany them. Alexander Cumming Dewar (the second son of James Dewar, the first having died, childless, without altering Vogrie) took on this task later in the century (see separate listing). As it says in the New Statistical Account "the stables . .afford a specimen of the taste and splendour with which the entire design would have been executed". Certain elements of the stable block suggest Indian influence (in addition to the obvious Gothic influence), for example the Tudor arches and the brackets supporting the parapet of the tower. Although there is no evidence to suggest that James Dewar, who was responsible for the building of the stable block, spent any time in India it is certain that both his sons had spent considerable time there, so this may have affected the design. The architect (or architects) of the stables are not known at present. However, C McWilliam suggests that R and R Dickson could have been responsible.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17826608

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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