Description
Circa 1807 for Thomas Young of Rosetta. Single to 1, 1/2-storey, multi-bayed square-plan castellated stable block with 3 higher angle towers set around courtyard; access through pend in S wall. Random whinstone rubble with rubble voussoirs to windows and carriage pend. String course at ground floor; plain eaves course on small square corbels supporting crenelles.
S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: to centre, plain rubble wall with segmental-arched carriage pend to left, crenelles surmounting. To right, 2-storey, single bay crenellated angle tower: former lancet window to ground floor centre altered to form entrance door with blind arched fanlight; to 1st floor, hoodmoulded central window with blind quatrefoil windows flanking cill, three oculi placed above. To left, 1, 1/2 -storey, 3-bay crenellated angle tower: wide blind arrowslit windows to outer bays with raised small window to centre; to half storey, blind cruciform windows to outer bays with blind oeil-de-boeuf to centre. Adjoining to left return, lean-to end of W range with 2-leaf arched door in pend.
E ELEVATION: near symmetrical central range with large arched window (now blind) to central bay breaking crenelles and rising to form low rectangular pediment; to upper floor flanks, paired lancets with quatrefoil window between beneath crenellated parapet. To ground floor, window to far left abutting angle tower, to right central window. 2-storey crenellated angle towers flanking central range; left tower: single hoodmoulded window to 1st floor; right tower: high paired lancets separated by hoodmoulded blind window at 1/2-storey height; paired cruciform lights (now blind) to upper storey beneath crenellated parapet.
N ELEVATION: single storey with 2 lancet windows to left; to centre, door with paired eaves windows to left. To right, projecting angle block: outside stair leading to hayloft entrance door (telephone kiosk beneath); to left, single window with matching window in left return; to right, semi-glazed door with flanking lights within rectangular pend.
W ELEVATION: 1, 1/2-storey range with projecting end of N and S ranges to far left and right; door in left re-entrant angle, window to centre; to right, single storey flat roofed extension in re-entrant angle with outside stone stair to left leading to hayloft door. Louvred ventilators to roofline, one with wrought-iron weathervane in shape of a greyhound.
COURTYARD ELEVATIONS: entrance in castellated facade with 3 ranges forming adjoined U-plan. 1, 1/2-storey W RANGE: to extreme left, door with small window to right, similar window above at eaves level; later large window and door adjacent to right; almost to centre of elevation inset wall post box; to extreme right of elevation, 2-leaf timber boarded door within later enlarged surround. 1, 1/2-storey N RANGE: formerly 4 segmental-headed cart pends, 4th now in-filled with much later timber door, pends 2 and 3 now timber in-fill with glazed upper portions; pend 1 remains open. To 1/2-storey, 4 horizontal eaves lights aligned with piers of arches; gable to right adjoins facade wall of NE angle tower. Single storey, lean-to E RANGE: majority of range contained between NE and SE angle towers; fairly symmetrical with central door contained within slightly raised bay with catslide roof, door to extreme left and right of elevation; single window placed to right of central door block. To right of elevation: crenellated angle tower with integral water tank; stone steps leading to wooden door at 1/2-storey. S RANGE: plain wall with heavy blocking course beneath crenelles; segmental-headed entrance to right near W range.
Some 12 and 9-pane sash and case windows to SE corner tower; lancet, quatrefoil and cruciform windows to rest of stables mostly blind. Some later various plan plate glass glazing to inner courtyard. Later roof lights to N & W elevations; some to inner courtyard with early 2-pane cast-iron Carron lights surviving in places. Pitched and piended grey slate roof with some roofline louvred ventilators surviving. Painted cast-iron rainwater goods.
INTERIOR: stone walled stables and haylofts refurbished to provide bar, kitchens and entertainment venues for holiday park; cast-iron water tank surviving to upper level of SE angle tower.
Statement of Special Interest
Part of a B-Group with Rosetta House, Walled Garden and Lodge. Rosetta is a small mansion house standing to the north of Peebles. Set within wooded grounds, now a caravan park, the stables and walled garden (listed separately) are part of the original estate buildings that compliment the house. Originally, the site was known as Acrefield. The new house, Rosetta, was erected for Thomas Young, a military surgeon. He had been on the Egyptian expedition led by Sir Ralph Abercromby who, after the capture of Alexandria in 101, had secured the Rosetta Stone for Britain. A plaster copy of the stone is built into the entrance lobby of the main house. The stables have remained relatively unaltered since they were built; although they have been refurbished and changed to house facilities for the Caravan Park including bars, entertainment room and kitchens. The courtyard remains flagged and a metal water tower is still housed in the SE angle tower.