History in Structure

Willie's Temple, Melville Castle

A Category A Listed Building in Lasswade, Midlothian

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Coordinates

Latitude: 55.8898 / 55°53'23"N

Longitude: -3.1121 / 3°6'43"W

OS Eastings: 330539

OS Northings: 666850

OS Grid: NT305668

Mapcode National: GBR 60QB.1J

Mapcode Global: WH6T1.5795

Plus Code: 9C7RVVQQ+W5

Entry Name: Willie's Temple, Melville Castle

Listing Name: Melville Castle, Willie's Temple

Listing Date: 15 February 1991

Category: A

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 345884

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB12940

Building Class: Cultural

ID on this website: 200345884

Location: Lasswade

County: Midlothian

Electoral Ward: Midlothian East

Parish: Lasswade

Traditional County: Midlothian

Tagged with: Holiday home Summer house

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Description

Circa 1760. Single storey, circular-plan, domed hilltop summerhouse, (possibly also a wellhead?). Polished ashlar sandstone. Arranged as

4 arched openings with Gibbsian surrounds; 4 intermediate piers, each with tall, blind arched panel, framed by panelled pilaster strips stopped by a convex moulding at foot, terminating in a scrolled console (only 1 survives). Moulded cornice; stone, bell-cast roof, crowned by stone pineapple finial (recently collapsed, circa 1994).

INTERIOR: possibly originally plastered, stone domed ceiling; small, round-headed niches set in ingoes of arched openings.

Statement of Interest

An important focus within the designed landscape at Melville, this temple, known as 'Willie's Temple', is sited on a hilltop reputed to be a medieval lookout point. The Estate Plans clearly demonstrate changing focus in landscape design with the role of this temple; in 1764 formal avenues led downhill form the building and to the E past a canal to England's Hill, a hilltop plantation to the N. By 1790 the canal (sited to the W of the present Garden Cottages) had disappeared. A Group with Melville Castle, Chestnut House, East Lodge, Esk Cottage, Garden Cottage, Garden Farmhouse, Walled Garden and Lodge, South Driveway Bridge, South Lodge, and Walled Garden Steading.

External Links

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