Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

MARCHMONT ESTATE, DOVECOTLB15388

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
A
Group Category Details
100000020 - see notes
Date Added
09/06/1971
Supplementary Information Updated
16/08/1999
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Planning Authority
Scottish Borders
Parish
Polwarth
NGR
NT 76001 49889
Coordinates
376001, 649889

Description

James Williamson, mason, 1749. Circular-plan, single-chambered tower dovecot sited to terminate Marchmont Avenue. Squared, tooled and coursed sandstone rubble; sandstone ashlar dressings. Stepped base; corniced eaves; sandstone blocking course. Shouldered doorway centred in SW front (door missing); lugged rectangular frame aligned above (panel missing). 2 rows of flight holes to SE with tiered sandstone ledges and moulded sandstone brackets. Domed grey slate roof surmounted by tapering cupola with flight holes at base.

INTERIOR: 532 timber nesting boxes lining walls (19 tiers of 28); lowest tier set 5ft above ground. Open timber roof; potence post in place.

Statement of Special Interest

B Group comprises Marchmont House, Adam Bridge, the Cottages near the Remains of Redbraes Castle, the Dovecot, Gamekeeper's Cottage, Ice House, The Kennel House, 1 & 2 Marchmont Estate Cottages, Redbraes, Stable Courtyard and the Walled Garden (see separate list entries). An impressive, well-detailed dovecot, set to the NE of Marchmont House, terminating Marchmont Avenue (itself planted circa 1727). Although the house has been wrongly attributed to William Adam, he is thought to have been responsible for its designed landscape - Marchmont Avenue playing a key role. Robertson records the dovecot's outer circumference as 44ft and the door opening as 7ft high, 4ft8" wide. Door missing, cornice damaged and slates broken/missing in part 1998.

References

Bibliography

Roy's map, 1750s (evident). Armstrong's map, 1771 (evident). Ordnance Survey Name Book (1856-1858) Reel 64, Book 38, NMRS. Ordnance Survey map, 1858 (evident). T Buxbaum SCOTTISH DOOCOTS (1987). A Niven Robertson THE OLD DOVECOTES OF SCOTLAND (1961) pp492-494. AN INVENTORY OF GARDENS AND DESIGNED LANDSCAPES IN SCOTLAND, Vol 5, LOTHIAN & BORDERS p351. C A Strang BORDERS AND BERWICK: AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE (1991) p49. NMRS photographic archives.

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.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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