Description

Begun 1600 as an L-plan mansion. N.W. arm extended and
returned north east wards and scale and platt stair inserted
between old and new N.E. arms in 1737 (date over entrance)
4 storeys and garret. Harled corble-step-gabled. Slated
roof. Good interiors panelled in Memel Pine. Vaulted 1st
storey. 19th cent. additions on N.E. and S.E. to N.W. is a
court bounded on NE and SW by walls and on NW by 2-storey
offices (built c1600; vaulted 1st storey) known as the 'Woman
House'.

Statement of Interest

Built for Sir John Shairp, advocate, who had acquired lands of

Houston 1569. Thomas Shairp of Houston, Commissioner for

Linlithgowshire in last Scottish Parliament. Opposed Treaty of

Union.

John Campbell Shairp. (1809-85) author of 'The Bush aboon

Traquair' was born here.

Houston passed out of hands of Shairp family 1945.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q15137017

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

• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)