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• Type

  Map

  Title

  Map for Brigton Farmhouse, excluding mill, former steading building and gatepiers, Douglastown (LB12078)

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600017662)

Summary

Description

A 2-storey, 3-bay, rectangular-plan farmhouse with a 1743 datestone. It has a symmetrical principal elevation to the southwest with central door. There is a single storey, early 20th century rectangular plan addition with a piended roof to the rear elevation. The farmhouse is built of stone and has been rendered. The windows are 4-pane timber sash and case to the front and there is non-traditional glazing to the rear. The roof is gabled and has grey slates, with straight skews and skew putts to the gable ends. The date 1743 is inscribed on the skewputt at the southeast corner. There are corniced gable end chimney stacks with clay cans.

The interior was seen in 2016 and consists of rooms flanking a central timber dog-leg staircase with a decorative cast iron balustrade. There are timber panelled doors and fireplaces with decorative surrounds and cast iron inserts.

To the southeast of the farmhouse is the steading and to the southwest is the altered mill building. Both have been extensively altered and have modern roofs. The stone gatepiers are to the southeast of the farmhouse and are square plan with pyramidal caps.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: former mill, former steading building and gatepiers.

Statement of Special Interest

Brigton is a good, representative example of an early Improvement farmhouse in Angus. While it has been moderately altered, the building has a simple design typical of its date and function and continues to form part of a traditional agricultural complex.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: former mill, former steading building and gatepiers.

Age and Rarity

The 1743 date on the farmhouse skewputt suggests the building was built in the mid-18th century. Taylor and Skinner's 1776 road survey map shows Brigton House (LB12074, 300m to the south-southeast of Brigton Farmhouse) and Milltoun (a settlement on the Glamis to Forfar road probably at present day Douglastown). Brigton Farmhouse is not visible, but this is a relatively schematic map. John Ainslie's map of 1794 and John Thomson's map of 1832 both show a small settlement between Brigton House and Douglaston, roughly at the location of Brigton Farmhouse, labelled Milltown in 1794 and Hillton in 1832.

Brigton Farmhouse is visible on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1861, the earliest detailed map of the area, and is depicted with a small extension to the northwest gable. By the time of the 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1901) the extension is not depicted. The current footprint of the building is the same as that shown on the 3rd Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1922), which illustrates a small extension to the northeast.

The Ordnance Survey Name Book of 1861 mentions Brigton Farm as a 'farm house and offices the property of William Douglas Esqr. Of Brigton'. The Douglas family had acquired the estate around 1762. The name book also lists J Guthrie as occupier, based on a rent receipt from the valuation roll of 1861.

Brigton Farmhouse is an early and largely intact example of a building associated with the first phase of the agricultural improvement period in Scotland. Although there have been later alterations to the farm's ancillary buildings (which are not listed) the grouping of agricultural buildings can still be appreciated.

Architectural or Historic Interest

Interior

Some 18th century detailing is evident in the farmhouse interior, such as the stair balustrade and room layout. Such detailing is typical for a farmhouse of this period and adds interest in listing terms.

Plan form

The footprint of the building is largely unaltered from that shown on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. The internal arrangement of the farmhouse, with rooms flanking a central staircase, is typical for a building of this date and type. Although some internal subdivision has occurred to the northeast, possibly in the early 20th century with the addition of a single storey extension, the plan form remains largely intact.

Technological excellence or innovation, material or design quality

The principal elevation of Brigton Farmhouse is turned away from the present road to the northeast but Ainslie's map of 1794 shows a former road to the west. The design of Brigton Farmhouse is typically simple for a building of this date and type. It has symmetrical proportions and the principal elevation is largely unaltered. Some early 20th century alterations have occurred to the northeast elevation, however these are minor and have not affected the interest in listing terms.

Setting

The immediate setting of the building has not changed significantly from that shown on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1861). The farmhouse retains garden ground to the southwest and the nearest of the farm buildings to the southeast still stands, although its roof has been altered. The farmhouse is set to one side of the open courtyard of ancillary farm buildings, and this is not unusual. The ancillary farm buildings, although altered and not listed in their own right, form part of this farm group. While some buildings have been altered and others demolished, the relationship between the farmhouse and the steading has been retained.

Further to the southeast is Brigton House (LB12074) with its former kitchen garden. The wider setting also adds to the interest of the farmhouse, which remains readable as part of an agricultural complex.

The former mill building is situated to the southwest and is visible from the farmhouse. It has been altered and is not designated.

Regional variations

There are no known regional variations.

Close Historical Associations

There are no known associations with a person or event of national importance at present (2017).

Listed building record updated and category of listing changed from B to C (2017).

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

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