Description

John Dobson, circa 1850-60. Single storey, 3-bay, cruciform plan, Classical, piend-roofed lodge, with Tuscan order portico and 20th century rear extensions. Polished pink sandstone ashlar; rear extensions rendered. Base course; plain frieze; cornice. Raised cills.

E (FRONT) ELEVATION: distyle portico raised on two shallow steps; two Tuscan pilasters flanking recessed 4-panelled door with plain glazed 2-pane timber fanlight. Tympanum of pediment carved with coronet and the letter M. (see Notes).

12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. Welsh slate roof; zinc ridges. Single central ashlar stack with moulded cope, one yellow clay can and one modern metal can.

GATEPIERS, WALLS AND GATES: 19th century. Four pyramidal-capped gatepiers linked by convex curved wing walls to ball-finialled piers at edge of roadline. Tall gatepiers to central vehicle entrance and identical smaller gatepiers to flanking pedestrian entrances. Base course; moulded cornice; squat pyramidal capstones. Spear-headed iron gates. Low curved walls with base course and moulded cope. Gatepiers on road-line similar to those in centre but capped by stone ball on squared block. All pink polished ashlar sandstone. Continuous tall squared rubble walls pierced by gate giving pedestrian access to lodge.

Statement of Interest

This was the lodge at the North entrance to Ladykirk estate. It is simple but carefully detailed and makes an important contribution to the picturesque hamlet of Upsettlington. It shows a number of basic similarities to the nearby West Lodge of Milne Graden and may owe something to the latter in the use of the Tuscan order and the simple piend roof design. The North Lodge must date from sometime after 1858. Although the papers in the NAS indicate that the plans were paid for in 1850 (at a cost of £3), the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858 shows the lodge in a different position nearer the gates and with a different footprint, suggesting the present lodge must date from after 1858. The lodge initially served as both gatelodge and post office for the village of Upsettlington.

John Dobson (1787-1865) is mentioned in the accounts as the architect. He was based in Newcastle and had a large and busy practice. Most of his work is in Northumberland and County Durham, so it particularly interesting to find a building by Dobson in Scotland, albeit a small one. Dobson's Classical designs are generally considered to be his best.

In the mid-19th century the estate was the property of David Marjoribanks, later Robertson, Lord Marjoribanks of Ladykirk, hence the letter 'M' carved on the pediment of the portico.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56618222

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.

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