Description

Composite L-plan house probably incorporating tower house at
west; present form established probably first half 18th
century; some windows enlarged early 19th century, and
interior re-modelled circa 1880 by James Barbour; further
alterations by J M Bowie circa 1915. House faces south west;
3 storeys; whitewashed rubble with red ashlar margins;
regularly placed small-paned sash windows. Stair turret in
re-entrant angle with small windows, blocked door and
shallow-pitched roof; main door alongside (by Bowie -
replacing Barbour's porch) in east range with crest above, 2
bays beyond. West range extends one bay from stair turret and
is blank at ground; small, low ground floor (bar) windows to
north west elevation, fire escape against south east gable.
Stair windows (by Barbour) at rear above modern function
room, and outbuildings, latter 2 storeys 3 bays with T-plan
roof and now linked with house. Corniced stacks; slate roofs.
Interior: turnpike stair in turret; wooden stair by Barbour
to rear above ground floor (lower part presumably removed
when function room was built); irregular narrow corridor
between 2 ranges runs length of house; some decorative 19th
century plasterwork in east range; barrel-vaulted ceiling of
bar is dummy at north end at least. Square gatepiers
(presumably by either Barbour or Bowie) have projecting caps
with engaged ball finials; curved, low quadrant walls with
spiked cast-iron railings; gates similar.

Statement of Interest

Home of Grierson of Lag, "Lag the persecutor" (Scott's

"Redgauntlet").

Stone table on lawn to west, dated September 1720, said to

have been a marriage stone.

Sketch by W C Aitken in Dumfries museum shows present bar

(then kitchen) without vault at north end (copy of sketch in

NMRS).

Fergusson, THE LAIRD OF LAG, 1886, notes on p.121 a sasine of

Rockhall dated 1.5.1610 which mentions "all and haill the

place of Rockhall laitlie biggit be the said Sir William"

etc.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17791663

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

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014