Description

Late 18th to early 19th century with later alterations and additions. Original 2 storey, 3-bay symmetrical house with lower 2-storey, 2-bay later addition to left (E), built on ground falling to E (rear), with various height additions to rear to form a courtyard. Rendered and lined to front and sides; coursed and squared sandstone rubble to courtyard elevations at rear (outer rear elevation partially rendered). Cornice and blocking course to original block. Raised and painted margins to windows; raised and channelled quoins. Small square-plan outbuilding to SE of house.

N RANGE: N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: original 3-bay block: advanced porch with cornice and blocking course supported by paired fluted Doric columns; replacement part-glazed door with letterbox fanlight; twin pilasters flanking narrow side lights; single window at 1st floor above. Window at each floor in bays flanking. Later 2-bay block to left: window at ground with non-aligned dormer window above in each bay. S (COURTYARD) ELEVATION: irregular 5-bay, encompassing single storey rear of later gabled block to right and 2 storey part rear of original block to left. Modern timber-framed and glass square plan porch in bay to centre; window in each bay flanking. Replacement timber-panelled door in left return of lean-to addition in bay to outer right. Lean-to section at right angles at ground; window at 1st floor to advanced, later bay to outer left.

W RANGE: W (SIDE) ELEVATION: irregular 5-bay with slightly advanced 3 bay section to centre with blank bay to left and blank gabled bay to right. 3-bay block to centre: window at ground in bay to centre; window at 1st floor above. Stair window, set high, in bay to left. Modern, polygonal conservatory at ground in bay to right; window at 1st floor above. E (COURTYARD) ELEVATION: 2 storey, 2-bay with single storey lean-to section at ground with window in each bay; window at 1st floor in bay to left.

E (SIDE) ELEVATION: blank gabled wall with redundant gablehead stack. Single storey, lean to addition to outer left; stairs to left of lean to giving access to courtyard at rear.

S (REAR) ELEVATION: irregular 4-bay with 2-storey 3-bay block to left and single storey with dormer, single bay block set back to centre; coped wall with railing to right. Modern small-pane French windows at ground in bay to centre; dormer window above. Window at ground in bay to left. Small window at ground with large window at 1st floor above in bays flanking.

Predominantly replacement 12-pane timber sash and case windows, some with top and some with bottom hoppers; some 16-pane timber sash and case windows to rear; grey slate piend and platform roof, double pitch to later addition; slate to lean-to sections at rear; painted ashlar coped stacks to W and E wallheads; redundant stack to gablehead of later addition; cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: partially seen 1997. Corinthian columns and pilasters dividing vestibule from hall; egg and dart and modillioned cornice to hall; egg and dart cornice with bead and reel border and fruiting vine plaster work to ceiling perimeter in dining room; timber panelled, architraved doors with cornices and flattened pediments.

OUTBUILDING: coursed and squared rubble with ashlar surrounds. S ELEVATION: deep-set, replacement timber panelled door, flanked by bipartite window, (replacement, fixed 4-pane). Other elevations blank. Skylights to grey slate piended roof; ashlar stack to W; cast iron rainwater goods.

Statement of Interest

One of the older dwellings in the village, Waddell mentions how the battle of Bothwell Bridge of 1697 could have been seen from the windows of Sweethope in its original form. References to Sweethope are also made connecting it with Sir Walter Scott's "Old Mortality". Waddell suggests that the house could have been the 'Fairyknowe' mentioned in this story; indeed, a road running off Green Street has been named Fairyknowe Avenue. Different length quoins between ground and 1st floors are of interest, perhaps indicating that the building has been raised at some point, although lack of evidence elsewhere would suggest that the feature is purely decorative.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17846297

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

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living