Description

19th century with later additions and alterations. Near L-plan walled garden (approximately 15,500m?) set to SW of Ayton Castle, on hillside sloping steeply to S. Open to SE; tall, coped walls enclosing remaining sides to SW, NW and NE. Predominantly harl-pointed sandstone rubble to outer elevations; red-brick inner linings (rendered in part); tooled cream sandstone dressings. 3 tiered terraces (each approximately 80ft wide) set in upper level with balustered sandstone walls to front (obscured by overgrowth); sandstone stairs (each approximately 10ft wide) linking each terrace; squat, panelled and corniced sandstone piers flanking base of each stair. Various boarded timber doors in segmental-arched and square-headed openings accessing garden. Greenhouses (removed 1938) originally adjoined inner elevation NW wall.

POTTING SHEDS: range of single storey, lean-to potting sheds adjoining outer elevation NW wall. Whin and sandstone rubble; stugged red sandstone dressings; boarded timber doors; 4-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roofs. INTERIORS: not seen 1998.

SUMMERHOUSE: 2-stage, octagonal-plan summerhouse set in NE wall with blind elevation to NE; arcaded elevation to SW. Tooled cream sandstone rubble to tall, battered 1st stage; coursed ashlar upper stage; ashlar dressings. Moulded eaves course; corniced eaves; plain parapet. SW (GARDEN/ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 3 segmental-arched openings accessing interior. Tapering octagonal grey slate cap with banded fishscale detailing; surmounting finial. INTERIOR: boarded timber walls; plain timber benches.

Statement of Interest

B Group comprises 'Ayton Castle', 'Ayton Castle, Dovecot', 'Ayton Castle, North Lodge', 'Ayton Castle, South Lodge', 'Ayton Castle, Stable Courtyard' and 'Ayton Castle, Walled Garden' - see separate list entries. Overgrown 1998. A large, impressive walled garden which retains significant interest. According to an article in THE GARDENER'S CHRONICLE, 1881, each of the garden's terraces "...is about 80ft high and in front of each is a handsome balustered wall, with a large flight of steps down to each division, 10ft wide." The article then goes on to describe the various glasshouses, including a peach house, a vinery and a greenhouse with paths "...laid out with Minton's tiles of a very pretty pattern." All these greenhouses were dismantled in 1938 and later replaced by those now set separately to the N. 'Garden Cottage' - a single storey and single storey with attic, painted harl structure is still incorporated within the garden's NW wall.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17845786

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

• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)