Description
Mid 17th century with later alterations. 2-storey
rectangular plan laird's house (in substantial and unusual
plan form) with later steading adjoined. Sited on steep
incline. Whinstone rubble, rounded at corners and with
some ashlar dressings. Variety of small, irregularly
spaced windows.
S ELEVATION: later squat conical slate roofed stair
projection added off-centre to right, with blocked outline
of former 1st floor window evident behind, and with
window inserted on stair well; doorway at base of stair
turret, 19th century stone mullioned bipartite to right of
door. 2, 19th century windows to 1st floor window under
eaves at centre, with smaller window in outer left bay,
comparable to those on N elevation; evidence of blocked
opening below; wallhead stack of late origin flanking to
left and 2 further 1st floor windows. Lean-to greenhouse
added at ground to outer left.
N ELEVATION: largely blank, with low doorway to vaulted
chamber off-centre to right, and narrow window inserted
in blocked former archway to centre at ground; 2 small
1st floor windows. Steading abutting at N corner.
E ELEVATION: steeply pitched with massive wallhead stack;
small 1st floor window to left.
W ELEVATION: blank with small 1st floor window to left;
wallhead stack of more modest proportions than that the E
gable.
Variety of glazing patterns, mainly 4-pane sash and case.
Grey slates; ashlar coping to skews and stacks.
INTERIOR: particularly thick walls; originally with 2 barrel
vaulted chambers at ground, one retained.
Possible ingleneuk at 1st floor to E end.
OUTBUILDINGS: U-plan single storey outbuildings adjoined
to N of house; rubble whinstone, thatched until 1972,
currently with corrugated roofing.
Statement of Special Interest
Originally owned by the Lauder family, currently the
property of the Earl of Haddington. However, an earlier date
is conceivable, in which case the ownership becomes more
complicated. It is linked by a cart-track to Mayshiel (listed separately), of similar form and status. Allegedly the
vast stack and vaulted chambers were formed for curing
herring, taking advantage of the herring road to Lauder
from Dunbar and the local peat. However, this is debatable.