Documents

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• Type

  Map

  Title

  Map for Greenlaw House, Castle Douglas (LB3708)

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600041329)

Summary

Description

A mid-18^th century neoclassical, rectangular-plan, symmetrical, three-storey and attic mansion house with bowed end elevations, set in open parkland. The entrance elevation (southwest) has and advanced 5-bay section with a large, splayed stair oversailing raised basement, leading to a first-floor tripartite entrance doorpiece with fluted Ionic pilasters and arched plain entablature over. The recessed piended end bays have full height bowed three-bay sections to the centre of their return elevations. The building is rendered with quoins to the margins and with corniced eaves. The windows at the piano nobile (principal first floor) are taller; there are Venetian style (round arched) windows to the first flow at the bowed ends. The rear elevation is plainer with an early 19^th century pilastered and corniced doorpiece with crest to the centre.

The interior of the building and the roof were reconstructed around 2000. The roof is piended with large, broad ashlar chimney stacks to the side ridges. The roof dormers were added after 2000.

Greenlaw House is first shown on James Dorret's 'A general map of Scotland and islands' of 1750 depicted as a mansion house symbol with annotated name. It is also on the First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (surveyed 1848, published 1853) in its current symmetrical plan form and this footprint appears unchanged since the time it was built. The map also shows a walled garden with outbuildings to the east of the house and another rectangular ancillary building to west. These ancillary buildings are not shown on the later maps.

Greenlaw House was built in 1741 for the Gordon family of Greenlaw and Culvennan (Buildings of Scotland). It remained as a dwelling until some point in the mid to later 20^th century when it operated as a hotel.

A fire in 1984 caused significant damage to the interior and by 2000 the roof and interior had been lost, although the building remained complete to wallhead. It was renovated from around 2000 using modern materials to the interior with an internal floor plan similar to the original layout.

Dating to the first half of 18^th century, the building is a fine example of a neoclassical house which survives in its largely original form to the exterior. It is an unusual lozenge shape plan which does not appear to have been changed since the time it was built. Although the architect is not known, the proportions of the elevations and scale of the building suggest a classically trained architect was involved in the design. This symmetrical classical design was a fashionable style for smaller scale, regional country houses during the period it was built, and the authenticity of the design remains to the exterior. There are fine classical details such as the sweeping entrance stair and ornate entrance screen as well as a classical doorpiece with coat of arms to the rear.

Most of the interior fabric of the building was lost to fire and was subsequently renovated around 2000. In its current form the interior does not add to the building's special interest.

The building is set in flat open parkland, and both the front and rear elevations of the house are visible from a long distance, appearing as a prominent feature in the landscape. The open setting is characteristic of this style of country house and adds to building's architectural and historic interest.

Dating to the first half of the 18^th century, Greenlaw House is a fine, early surviving example of a small villa, designed in the grand manner of a fashionable neoclassical country house. In plan form and design, it defines the classical ideal for a country house of this size and importantly it predates the villa building boom of the late 18th century. While the roof has been rebuilt, the exterior retains its historic character.

Statement of Special Interest

• Dating to the mid-18th century it is a fine example of a neoclassical house designed with characteristic details such as a symmetrical plan form and elevations and refined classical architectural detailing.
• Later alterations to the roof have not adversely affected the building's historic character and authenticity to its exterior which shows features both in plan and elevation which are characteristic of the neoclassical style in villa architecture of the period.
• The building retains an historic open parkland setting, which is typical of a classical country villa of this period.
• It dates to first half of the 18th century and is an early surviving example of what later became a prolific building type.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are legally excluded from the listing: the interior.

Statutory address, category of listing changed from A to B and listed building record revised in 2025. Previously listed as 'Greenlaw House'.

References

Bibliography

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.

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