Description

Originally 18th century, reconstructed 1914-1918 by Sir Robert Lorimer. 2-storey with attic above concealed basement, 6-bay classical, L-plan Georgian house with bridging mezzanine bay set back providing access to irregular single storey service wing with attic stretching back to SE, fronted by curved gabled bay. Stugged and snecked sandstone; slightly raised droved margins to openings stugged long and short surrounds; eaves course; stone parapet with evenly disposed urn finials; strip pilaster quoins; ashlar coped garden wall to SW with arched opening to left of centre. Single storey service wing to NE.

NW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: bays irregularly disposed, 1 2 1 1 1. Window at basement level in bay to centre; window at ground; window at 1st floor; dormer window to attic above. Timber panelled door at basement level between bay to centre and double bay to left of centre. Window at ground in bay to left of centre; window at ground; window at 1st floor; dormer window above. Window at ground in penultimate bay to left; window at 1st floor; dormer window above. Window at basement level in bay between penultimate and outer bay to left. Window at ground in bay to outer left; window at 1st floor above. Window to bridging mezzanine. Advanced, flat-roofed, single storey projection to bay to extreme left with 2 windows, closely spaced; window at 1st floor above with Dutch gable above. Window at ground in bay to right of centre; window at 1st floor; dormer window above. Raised Gibbsian doorpiece in bay to outer right; 2-leaf timber panelled door; window at 1st floor; non-aligned dormer window above.

SE (GARDEN) ELEVATION: angle of L; 7-bay, grouped 3-3-1 with 4-bay return wall providing short arm of L. 3-bay group to centre; triple arched loggia with Ionic columns at ground; lunette window to each bay set behind. Niche with a statue of Flora in bay to centre at 1st floor above; window in each bay flanking. Single bay to outer right: window at each floor set to right of centre. 4-bay return wall: round headed arch at ground (originally open with door set back within) in bay to outer right; window at 1st floor above. Window at each floor in remaining 3 bays. Slightly advanced 3-bay block to left of centre: 3-light canted bay with French windows to centre at ground spanning

3 bays; window in each bay at 1st floor above.

SW (SIDE) ELEVATION: 5 bays, irregularly disposed. Full-height, semi- circular 3-light bay to right of centre; dormer window above. Window at ground in bay to outer right; window at 1st floor; dormer window above. Window at ground in bay to left of centre; window at 1st floor; dormer window above. 2-bay block to outer left, slightly recessed: window at ground in penultimate bay to left. Window at ground in bay to outer left; window at 1st floor; non-aligned dormer window above.

SERVICE WING: SW ELEVATION: irregular 4 bay (facing main house). Architraved door surround in bay to right of centre. Dormer window at attic level in bay to outer right. Window at ground with dormer window above in bays to left of centre. Irregular and part-harled, 13-bay elevation to (NE) rear.

12-, 15-, 16- and 24-pane timber sash and case windows; grey slate, piended platform roof; platform-roofed dormers; slate to additional wing; 4 evenly disposed ashlar coped stacks to NW; further ashlar coped stacks to SE and SW; cast-iron rainwater goods.

GARDEN WALL: squared sandstone rubble with flat ashlar cope.

Statement of Interest

Re-built by Sir Robert Lorimer, 1914-1918, after a fire, for James Hood, a local coal magnate. Having left the plain original 18th century entrance front, Lorimer concentrated on the garden elevation, adding a canted boudoir bay, a loggia, and a dining room extension. The statue of Flora above the loggia is by Louis Deuchars who often worked with Lorimer. The open passage which now exists between the service wing and the main house was intended to be covered by a glass roof. Since 1985, the interior of the house as well as the service wing, has been flatted, but both Hussey and Savage provide good plates for reference. After the fire, the interior was refitted with woodwork by Scott Morton & Co. Shallow relief ornamental plasterwork reflects detail to be found outside, for example the basket of flowers terminating the bedroom passage.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17827948

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

• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)