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Summary

Description

Late 19th century single storey and attic cottage at right angles to street with outstanding 17th century carved panels inset to street (E) elevation and tall shouldered stack. Bull-nosed red sandstone ashlar with contrasting yellow dressings and long and short quoins. Central door to S elevation; 2 flanking 4-pane windows, 2 wallhead piended dormers. Piended slate roof. Cubical sundial with ball finial on 4 scrolls to SW wallhead angle.

GIFFORD STONES: 3 unusually elaborate carved figurative panels set in E elevation of cottage, dated 1660 by James Gifford, stonemason, sculptor and portioner of West Linton (see Notes).

Statement of Special Interest

The interest of Gifford Stones House focuses primarily on the remarkable, elaborately carved 17th century stone inset panels, the work of renowned local stonemason and sculptor, James Gifford who lived in West Linton. The stones originally adorned Gifford's own house, on or near this site which was demolished circa 1860.

The central panel contains armourials and portrait busts of James Gifford and his wife, Euphemia Veitch. The flanking panels include '6 progenitors of James Gifford" and a depiction of Gifford and his wife standing beneath an apple tree on which birds are perched. Rose trees with birds, another favourite device, are also employed. Each panel is fully described in the RCAHMS Inventory pp339-340. The cubical sundial with ball finial on 4 scrolls at the SW angle would also appear to be by Gifford. His intricately carved fireplace for his own house was brought to nearby Spitalhaugh House (see separate listing) in 1860.

The historic core of West Linton is characterised by its broadly unplanned layout, the result of its former status as a burgh of regality. The village has a reputation as a centre for stone masons and sculptors, evidenced by the number of reclaimed carved stone fragments and details, some of late 18th century or early 19th century date, that pepper many of the houses fronting Main Street. The variety of stonework used within relatively close proximity amply demonstrates the range and quality of the building materials, sourced from well-renowned local quarrys such as Deepsykehead, Broomlee, Kaimes and Marlfield.

List description updated at resurvey (2010).

References

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