Description

Dated 1759 incorporating earlier portico. Circular-plan, single storey drum temple, (originally with an extra stage, removed in 1975), with rectangular-plan stair tower at rear to SE, modern unsympathetic addition to E built 1992. Rubble built, ashlar fronted. Base course; band course; dentil cornice.

N ELEVATION: overlooking Craigiehall Estate. Early 18th century Doric portico with corner piers and paired central columns on die; massy segmental pediment ornately carved with monogram and arms of 3rd Earl of Annandale and his wife Sophia Fairholm. Flanking plain windows, now with unglazed small-pane grille, inscribed marble date plaque above right window with Latin inscription 'live happy while you can among joyful things'.

S ELEVATION: stair projection, rubble with ashlar quoins. Large oculus at upper stage. Door at ground of left return.

All windows unglazed but with metal grilles. Concrete roof.

INTERIOR: octagonal interior. Floor gone between ground and 2nd level; plain classical chimneypieces against W wall; blocked window opening to right of 1st floor chimney.

Tiled floor inlaid with marble. Concrete ceiling. Interior in neglected condition.

Statement of Interest

Listed category A for the portico. The temple is located in the middle of the deer park of Craigiehall Estate on the top of Leny Hill. The temple is dated 1759 but the portico is earlier, certainly pre 1716 when Sophia Fairholm died, wife of the 3rd Earl of Annandale whose arms are shown on the pediment. The authors of the Edinburgh volume of the Buildings of Scotland have suggested that the portico may have been one of the forecourt gates designed by the Earl of Mar and made by Alexander McGill in 1708. The top floor of the temple was removed in 1975. In 1992 an unsympathetic dwelling house was built against the NE side of the temple. The single storey with attic, rectangular-plan dwelling abuts onto temple at SE with a glazed wood angular porch, as yet there is no access to the temple. Grey brick base, dry-dash, rubble to S elevation; grey slate piend and platformed roof with square quadripartite dormer on E elevation. Craigiehall and associated buildings are listed separately.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17570294

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

• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)