Description
1823, with later additions and alterations. Former classical laird?s house comprising 2-storey and attic over basement 3 x 3-bay principal block to W, flanked to N and S by earlier 20th century classroom blocks; modern gymnasium block centred to rear (E) of house (on site of former W courtyard); symmetrical former stable court (contemporary with house) centred to E comprising 2 interlocking U-plan single storey ranges enclosing courtyard at centre with 3-stage dovecote tower centred to W, and coach-house with 2-storey belltower centred to E. Stugged granite ashlar walls, and dressings with some polished granite ashlar details.
HOUSE: band courses at principal and 1st floors, string course at impost level of principal floor, cornice and parapet at eaves. Projecting cills to windows.
W (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical, centre bay slightly advanced, basement obscured by steps and base to entrance portico comprising coupled Roman Doric cast-iron columns supporting entablature with blocking course raised at centre; modern infill to round-headed entrance arch. Square window centred at 1st floor over portico; blind tripartite window in parapet, corniced and raised at centre. Infilled windows at basement in outer bays; round-arched recesses at principal floor with modern glazed infill; regular fenestration at 1st floor.
S ELEVATION: symmetrical, doors in each bay at basement, vertically-boarded at right, infilled at centre; regular fenestration (matching principal elevation) to principal and 1st floors.
E (REAR) ELEVATION: mostly obscured by modern gymnasium addition; 1st floor advanced in centre bay; regular fenestration (matching principal elevation) to principal and 1st floors.
N ELEVATION: symmetrical, doors in each bay at basement, infilled in centre and right bays, vertically-boarded timber door in bay to left.
Later (post-war) glazing throughout, modern mansard platform roof.
INTERIOR: not seen 1996.
AREA WALLS: granite retaining wall surmounted by modern steel railing.
W STEADING: symmetrical U-plan building, enclosing courtyard to E; 3-stage dovecote centring 7-bay W range comprising double forestair to W side accessing vertically-boarded timber door at 2nd stage, pebble rustication to quatrefoil decoration at stage above; low access door to lower stage in E side, door over band course at 2nd stage, flight ledge with 7 flight-holes below eaves course; blind cruciform windows to 2nd stage of N and S sides; felted pyramidal roof. Roofless L-plan ranges flanking, 3-bay jambs to W, N and S ranges with slit ventilators between stable doors in each bay (doors now missing); E side of courtyard enclosed by granite rubble wall, bases and cavetto caps to gatepiers at centre, pedestrian gates to left and right (with stanchion of fine wrought-iron gate surviving). 2-tier 3-bay entrance gate (formerly for W courtyard) adjoining NW corner, pedestrian gateway at centre with blind openings flanking, corniced upper tier over central opening containing large carved armorial panel dated 1750.
E STEADING: near-symmetrical, modern raised wallhead to S range, round-headed over-arch containing blind window centring symmetrical W gable, pedimented gablehead with cruciform pattern at centre; tripartite entrance gate with blind side openings and stepped and corniced wallhead adjoining to left and connecting with corner of W steading, single large urn surviving to wallhead at right. 17-bay (grouped 1-6-5-6-1) W elevation to E range with 4-centred arch-heads to carriage arches in 5-bay centrepiece (some arches now altered), dormer breaking eaves in centre bay, tower-like, with loading door centred at 1st floor, stepped and corniced wallhead surmounted by openwork belfry with finialled cap. Alternating doors and small square windows (some altered) in flanking bays, 4-centred arch-heads to pend arches in bays to outer right and left. 9-bay (grouped 1-3-1-3-1) symmetrical E elevation comprising 5 closely-spaced slit ventilators at centre, windows in 3 regularly-spaced bays to each side (those to left now infilled), 4-centred arch-heads to pend arches in bays to outer right and left. Irregular fenestration to N and S elevations of N range, round-headed over-arch containing modern glazed window centring symmetrical W gable, pedimented gablehead with modern window inserted over former cruciform pattern at centre; tripartite entrance gate with blind side openings and stepped and corniced wallhead adjoining to right and connecting with corner of W steading, large urns surviving to wallhead at centre and left.
Grey slate and corrugated-iron roofs to E steading; coped ashlar ridge stacks with circular cans to N and E ranges, small urn finial to W gable of N range.
BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATEPIERS: random rubble walls forming roughly heart-shaped enclosure of hillside to N W, and S of house. Coped square stugged granite entrance gatepiers aligned to N of house, dressed stonework to corners and former gateways at W extremity of policies. Paired pedestrian and vehicular gateways adjoining NE corner of E steading comprising square stugged granite shafts with stepped caps and obelisk-like pyramidal finials. Random rubble wall extending to N from W gable of E steading and enclosing former walled garden.