Description
Early 18th century, including 17th century fabric, with 19th century alterations and additions, and with fine 18th century interior decoration. 2-storey, attic and basement, irregular plan town house created from 2 connecting houses. Sandstone; squared, rubble and part harl, stugged ashlar to gabled entrance front. Plain and raised margins, chamfered to entrance front.
S ELEVATION (IN DOIG'S CLOSE): 5-bay wing with raised principal floor; central panelled door with large 9-pane fanlight, window centred above at 1st floor, 2 symmetrical bays flanking at principal and 1st floors. Basement window to right, paired basement windows to extreme left. Single bay link section to left of 5-bay wing with window at principal and dormer-headed window at 1st floor.
E ELEVATION: gabled entrance spanning and terminating close; 6-step flight with cast-iron railings to raised principal floor, 2-leaf panelled doors, 2-pane rectangular fanlight with decorative wrought-iron screen, flanking narrow windows, window centred above at 1st floor. Steps down leading to entrance in basement with door to left and window to right.
N ELEVATION (IN DOIG'S CLOSE): single storey, basement and attic, short 2-bay wing. Door to right, window at ground and basement to left.
N ELEVATION (IN CLOSE 168 HIGH STREET): rubble stone gable end to right, rear of 5-bay wing to left, irregular fenestration.
W ELEVATION: 7-bay garden front; bays grouped 5-2, doorway to centre of 5 bays, rectangular fanlight. Regular fenestration, windows at principal (1st) floor larger. 2 gableheaded dormers, 3 modern skylights.
S ELEVATION (GARDEN): gable end to left; window to right at basement and principal floor, window in gablehead. 2-bay wing to right, window to left at ground, door to right, 2 gable headed dormers.
4, 8 and 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slate pitched roofs to W and S, corrugated iron roof to N wing, stone skews, brick gablehead stack to S, brick ridge stack to SE.
INTERIOR: exceptional and intact early 18th century panelling throughout all wings on principal floor, plasterwork and panelled doors to match. Interconnecting rooms supplemented by mid? 19th century hall running N-S, this created at same time as gabled entrance front. Staircase to centre of 5-bay wing gives evidence of extensive alterations including probable changes in floor levels. Stone staircase to S probably part of 19th century alterations. Fall of ground from High Street to Basin causes basement in Doig's Close to become ground floor on garden front. Ground floor kitchen; flat arch of 17th century fireplace rang along N wall. Drawing Room; full-height early 18th century panelling, lugged doorcases, full-height fluted and reeded pilasters dividing picture panels, ovolo-moulded caps, later Georgian, circa 1800-1830 chimneypiece with roundels flanking moulded frieze and plain central tablet (white painted black marble beneath). Dining Room; panelling continues, fluted pilasters, reeded to dado and with elaborate William Adam style Corinthianesque capitals, lugged doorcases and dentil cornice, simple early 19th century black marble chimneypiece in N wall, entrance from hall via stone bolection moulded doorpiece, originally external before 19th century additions. Study; panelling continues, deep bolection-moulded chimneypiece with panelled stiles and triple keyblock at centre to S side.
BOUNDARY WALLS: rubble stone boundary walls enclosing garden to rear (west).
Statement of Interest
The original merchant's house was occupied during the 17th century by Provost Robert Rennald and Alexander Dempster of Logie, merchant. It was restored during the lifetime of Provost Doig of Cookston who was Chief Magistrate 1754-55. On his death in 1763 the house passed to his daughter Lady Christian Carnegie, who married Sir James Carnegie of Pittarow MP, and who lived in the house until her death in 1820. In the 19th century it was owned by a Dr Stone. The interior apparently imitates William Adam's 1730's work for David Erskine, Lord Dun at House of Dun. Enclosed garden to rear (west) with obelisk feature.
External Links
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Recommended Books
Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)