Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

University of Edinburgh, Dryden Tower, Langhill Farm, RoslinLB13032

Status: Designated

Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Category
B
Date Added
22/01/1971
Last Date Amended
17/07/2015
Local Authority
Midlothian
Planning Authority
Midlothian
Parish
Lasswade
NGR
NT 26969 64655
Coordinates
326969, 664655

Description

Mid 19th century. 3-stage, square-plan gothick tower with corbelled parapet and northeast-facing, D-plan structure at base (1st stage). Ashlar sandstone with polished dressings; margins to openings; cornice and blocking course between 1st and 2nd stage; cornice course between 2nd and 3rd stage; raised cills to 3rd stage; strip quoins to 3rd stage; consoled battlements with corbelled, octagonal pinnacles to angles. Stone gargoyle rainwater spout added circa 2014.

1ST STAGE: NE ELEVATION: 3-bay. Evenly disposed square-plan columns with cornice and square cap (one missing) between each bay. Single window (blinded) to each bay; ashlar cope to wall sections between.

SW ELEVATION: paired slit windows to advanced 1st stage of tower; flanking windows to base structure (one blinded).

2ND STAGE: 2 small square-headed windows with small round headed window above, within recessed round-headed arch to each face.

3RD STAGE: round-arched window with circular window above to each face.

INTERIOR: turnpike stair inside tower.

Statement of Special Interest

Initially intended as a hilltop eye-catcher for Dryden House, demolished in 1938, and is still a prominent landmark. It originally belonged to a wider landscape known locally as 'The Pleasure' which was destroyed by the construction of Bilston Glen colliery. It was perhaps built to commemorate the Battle of Roslin, 24th February, 1303, when the Scots successfully defeated three English Divisions.

The tower first appears on the 1854 Ordnance Survey map of Edinburghshire.

Repairs during 2014-15 saw the introduction of a stone gargoyle rainwater spout to upper eaves course of tower.

Listed building record and statutory address updated (2015). Previously listed as 'Dryden Tower'.

References

Bibliography

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland: http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore.html CANMORE ID 85672

Ordnance Survey (surveyed 1852, published 1854), Edinburghshire, Sheet 12 (includes: Glencorse; Lasswade; Penicuik) 1st Edition. London: Ordnance Survey.

Jones, B. (1974) Follies and Grottoes, Constable, p. 422.

Headley, G. and Meulenkamp, W. (1986) Follies, A guide to Rogue Architecture In England, Scotland and Wales, London: Jonathan Cape, p. 422.

Thomas, J. (1995) Midlothian. Edinburgh: RIAS. p. 48

Cooper, S. (1996) An Inventory of Garden Buildings In Scotland, Vol 2.

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.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

West elevation, University of Edinburgh, Dryden Tower, Langhill Farm, Roslin, metal railing in foreground, sunndy day.
Southwest elevation, University of Edinburgh, Dryden Tower, Langhill Farm, Roslin, with metal railing surrounding tower.

Printed: 24/04/2024 13:55