Balgone House

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Balgone House is a mansion near the Scottish town of North Berwick in the East Lothian Council Area . In 1971 the structure was included in the Scottish Monument Lists in Monument Category B. It was upgraded to the highest category A in 2007. In addition, Balgone House, together with two outer buildings, forms a category A monument ensemble. The surrounding gardens are most recently listed in the Scottish register for landscape gardens .

history

The high architectural and historical importance of Balgone House lies in the traceability of the development of a manor house over several centuries. It is certain that a previous structure existed at the Balgone House site. This is supported by vaulted cellars and an open fireplace in Balgone House, which date back to the 15th century, while the building itself was not erected until the 17th century. Due to the dimensions, the previous building could have been a tinkering house or a small tower house . A connection to the 12th century Cistercian convent of St. Mary's Priory is also being considered.

In 1702 the property came into the possession of the Grant-Suttie family . The oldest floor plan of the mansion dates from 1739. In that year Balgone House was expanded and redesigned. In order to meet the architectural zeitgeist of the 18th century, a symmetrical structure was created in this century. Over the next century, Balgone House saw two phases of construction. In the first half of the century, among other things, the entrance area was relocated and an extension in the Scottish Baronial style was added at the rear. Another grand piano in this style was created in the 1860s. In the course of a thorough restoration and revision in the 1990s, the extensions from the previous century were canceled.

description

Balgone House is isolated in a sparsely populated region of East Lothians about two miles south of North Berwick. The three-story building is designed in a traditional Scottish style. The west-exposed front is symmetrical and nine axes wide. Two polygonal stair towers emerge, one of which was added to create symmetry. Three short wings extend from the rear of the building. Twelve-part lattice windows are installed along the facade . The masonry is plastered with Harl . The roofs are covered with gray slate.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ a b Garden and Designed Landscape - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .

Web links

Coordinates: 56 ° 1 '55.8 "  N , 2 ° 41' 49.7"  W.