Description

Mid 18th century; later additions and alterations. Single storey and attic, 3-bay house with adjoining outbuilding wings forming open courtyard. Predominantly whitewashed rubble.

E (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: near-symmetrical; 3-bay house; modern timber door flanked to left by modern window to centre bay of ground floor, windows to flanking bays to left and right; 2 modern rectangular dormers to attic floor. Single bay links to outbuilding wings to left and right, glazed boarded timber door to left, window to right; wings advanced to outer left and right; inside returns not seen 1999.

N ELEVATION: predominantly blank, 3 irregular openings to outer right, skylights to attic floor.

W ELEVATION: not seen 1999.

S ELEVATION: roof swept down to bays to left, remainder not seen 1999.

4-pane timber sash and case windows and modern glazing. Graded grey slate roof with lead ridge. Stone skews with blocked skewputts. Coped gablehead stacks with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not seen 1999.

Statement of Interest

Mount Oliphant was originally called South High Corton. It was owned by James McDermeit Fergushill, a writer, who sold it to Dr William Fergusson of Doonholm along with its farmland in 1758. Around 1766 Fergusson rented the property and land to William Burnes, farther of Robert Burns. Robert Burns (1759-1796) lived there from the age of 7 to 19, "it familiarised him with 'Alloway Kirk', the 'Banks and Braes o'Bonnie Doon', and other themes of his poetry" (Groome, p76). According to Groome and the NSA the soil was poor, and the family struggled to survive. Despite later alterations, the farm of Mount Oliphant retains its courtyard arrangement.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17853734

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

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy