Description
Composite L-plan house probably incorporating tower house at
west; present form established probably first half 18th
century; some windows enlarged early 19th century, and
interior re-modelled circa 1880 by James Barbour; further
alterations by J M Bowie circa 1915. House faces south west;
3 storeys; whitewashed rubble with red ashlar margins;
regularly placed small-paned sash windows. Stair turret in
re-entrant angle with small windows, blocked door and
shallow-pitched roof; main door alongside (by Bowie -
replacing Barbour's porch) in east range with crest above, 2
bays beyond. West range extends one bay from stair turret and
is blank at ground; small, low ground floor (bar) windows to
north west elevation, fire escape against south east gable.
Stair windows (by Barbour) at rear above modern function
room, and outbuildings, latter 2 storeys 3 bays with T-plan
roof and now linked with house. Corniced stacks; slate roofs.
Interior: turnpike stair in turret; wooden stair by Barbour
to rear above ground floor (lower part presumably removed
when function room was built); irregular narrow corridor
between 2 ranges runs length of house; some decorative 19th
century plasterwork in east range; barrel-vaulted ceiling of
bar is dummy at north end at least. Square gatepiers
(presumably by either Barbour or Bowie) have projecting caps
with engaged ball finials; curved, low quadrant walls with
spiked cast-iron railings; gates similar.
Statement of Special Interest
Home of Grierson of Lag, "Lag the persecutor" (Scott's
"Redgauntlet").
Stone table on lawn to west, dated September 1720, said to
have been a marriage stone.
Sketch by W C Aitken in Dumfries museum shows present bar
(then kitchen) without vault at north end (copy of sketch in
NMRS).
Fergusson, THE LAIRD OF LAG, 1886, notes on p.121 a sasine of
Rockhall dated 1.5.1610 which mentions "all and haill the
place of Rockhall laitlie biggit be the said Sir William"
etc.