Strafontane Mill, Abbey St Bathans, Abbey St Bathans, Scottish Borders

Description

Earlier 19th century; heightened mid 19th century; (partly rebuilt?) and enlarged, in 2 stages, later 19th century (circa 1870-80); subdivided late 20th century. Asymmetrical, 2-storey with attic, near L-plan gabled house subdivided to form 3 properties. Harled rubble whinstone (exposed in part); cream sandstone dressings; coursed and stugged cream sandstone to single storey gabled porch. Raised base course in part; overhanging timber bracketed eaves; decorative timber bargeboards; some kingpost trusses to gableheads. Narrow strip quoins; sandstone margins (predominantly square-headed and shouldered); sandstone mullions; some decorative window surrounds to NW; projecting cills.

SW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 7-bay. 2-storey, gabled bay advanced to outer left with segmental-arched window at ground; single window at 1st floor; projecting, corbelled detail centred beneath apex. 2-leaf timber panelled door centred in gabled porch advanced to right; polished sandstone, roll-moulded and shouldered surround; coat of arms in architraved panel above; overhanging bargeboarded gable with tapering timber finial. 2-storey gabled bay recessed to right with segmental-arched window at ground off-set to right of centre; inscribed rectangular panel above; single window at 1st floor. 3-bay wing in subsequent bays to right comprising jerkin headed porch projecting at centre; bipartite windows at ground in flanking bays; gableheaded windows breaking eaves above; jerkin headed dormers aligned above. Gabled wing advanced to outer right with bipartite window at ground; corbelled 2-light canted window in deep chamfered surround centred beneath apex. Single storey lean-to addition beyond.

NW (SIDE) ELEVATION: 6-bay grouped 2-1-1-2 with corbelled turret to outer left; octagonal tower set behind; surrounding outer walkway at ground. Taller 2-bay wing to left comprising projecting 4-light window centred at ground; overhanging bracketed canopy; single windows in both bays at 1st floor; gabled window breaking eaves in bay to right (corbelled cill; decorative motif centred in lintel); single window centred beneath gable in bay to left (corbelled cill; pilastered surround; carved tympanum detail); corbelled turret engaged to outer left with single windows in each facet; decorative finial surmounting conical spire. Round-arched hollow detail at ground in subsequent bay to right; corbelled, 3-light bowed oriel above; decorative finial surmounting spire. Tripartite window at ground in bay advanced to right; single window aligned at 1st floor with narrow light in bay to right; round sandstone panel breaking eaves above with keystoned, round-arched pediment; jerkin-headed, finialed dormer centred in polygonal spire; finial surmounting. 2-bay wing advanced to outer right comprising segmental-arched window at ground in bay to left; gableheaded bipartite window breaking eaves above; 3-light canted window at ground in bay to right; gableheaded single window breaking eaves above; jerkin-headed bipartite dormer centred between; finial surmounting.

Predominantly timber sash and case windows; some timber casement windows. Graded grey slate roofs; fish-scale detail to conical and polygonal spires; cast-iron rainwater goods. Coped brick ridge and apex stacks with octagonal, barley-sugar cans.

INTERIOR: subdivided to form 3 separate properties. WEST WING: tiled vestibule floor. Timber panelled dado panelling; polished grey sandstone fireplace; intricate foliate cornice work; panelled plaster ceiling with embossed detailing. Impressive dog-leg stair with balustered, barley-sugar uprights, timber handrail, timber treads; arcaded half-landing with regularly-spaced square-plan carved columns supporting architraved and keystoned depressed arches. Decorative cornice work and embossed ceiling in drawing room. Detailed cornice work to dining room (grapes and vines); plaster panelled ceiling; marble fireplace. Timber panelled doors throughout with shouldered and architraved timber surrounds; timber skirting boards; timber panelled shutters in place. LIBRARY WING: timber panelled dado to drawing room; decorative cornices; panelled plaster ceilings; decorative timber panelled shutters; some original fireplaces. Former billiard room with boarded timber combed ceiling. Attic stair with barley sugar uprights, timber newels, timber handrails, barley sugar posts linking corbelled arches above. FLAT: not seen 1997.

BOUNDARY WALLS, RAILINGS, GATEPOSTS AND GATES: coped rubble whinstone wall enclosing site to road (stepped with sandstone coping near entrance); wrought-iron railings (latticed at base); finialed newels. Corniced polygonal iron gateposts with moulded finials; latticed, inverted-arched pedestrian gates flanking central vehicular gate.

Statement of Interest

Home to the Turnbulls, Heritors of Abbey St Bathans during the 19th century. Having acquired the parish from John Hume in 1786, John Turnbull of Duns began to instigate widespread improvements. These were continued by his son, George, who took over the estate in 1807, and in turn, by his son John, who became Heritor in 1855. Lawyers by profession, the Turnbulls were able to invest a substantial amount of money into the development of their lands. Thus, the building of a new manse, the upgrading of a number of existing farms and the erection of high quality homes for estate workers. Today, all these ?improvements? remain much as they did when first complete and are therefore, rare examples of a 19th century development funded by three generations of the same family. Prior to extensive alterations by John Turnbull during the later 19th century, "Abbey Cottage" as the house was originally known, was a simple, single storey and attic structure with hipped porches and a thatched roof. Cochrane writes of a second storey being added before it was rebuilt and subsequently enlarged from around 1870. This ?enlargement? is thought to have been in 2 stages, with the creation of what is now the West Wing, followed by what is now the Library Wing. Although the 1882 Gazetteer records the house as "...a modern erection", elements of the original cottage appear in place, including the gabled wing advanced to outer left, the jerkin-headed porch off-set to right of centre and the 2 dormers breaking eaves. The inscribed lintel set in the front elevation and dated 1694, is thought to have come from a previous structure. Despite recent subdivision, the majority of original features remain, with some good detailing both inside and out. With open views towards the church, this prominently sited house dominates the landscape, just as the Turnbulls dominated the parish during the 19th century. The remains of St Bathans Well (said to have had the power to heal disease) are set within the grounds below the house. A walled garden, formerly associated with the house and now used by the nearby Lodge (see separate list entry), is situated to the SE.

External Links

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