Calder House
Calder House is a mansion in the Scottish village of Mid Calder in West Lothian . In 1971 the building was included in the Scottish List of Monuments in the highest category A. Furthermore, the east gate of Calder House is independently classified as a Category A structure. A monument ensemble does not exist.
history
Around 1350, the Sandilands family came into possession of the Calder lands. In 1564 James Sandilands was installed as the first Lord Torphichen and the title as well as the lands have since been inherited within the family. Calder House was largely built in the 16th century, replacing a small fortress of older date, which was also worked into the manor house in fragments. In 1556, the Scottish reformer John Knox performed the Reformed Communion in public for the first time in the great hall of Calder House. In the course of the 17th century the building was expanded and, among other things, the east gate was added in 1670. Further extensions were added in 1780 and 1880. To this day, Calder House is the seat of the Lords Torphichen.
description
The primarily three-story Calder House is located in the midst of extensive grounds in Mid Calder. The quarry stone building has a traditional L-shaped floor plan . The asymmetrically constructed facades are designed next to the lattice windows with corner stones and ox eyes . The chimneys on the slate roof are embossed . Part of the north wing, which was built in the late 17th century, has four floors. The interior largely no longer corresponds to the original condition. There are three rooms with vaulted ceilings on the ground floor. The large hall on the upper floor is paneled with pine.
East gate
Walter Sandilands, 6th Lord Torphichen had the east gate built in the Renaissance style . The stone posts are decorated with decorative ribbons. The year of construction is recorded in an ornamented frieze . The building closes with a broken triangular gable . The gate is made of cast iron.
Chopin's stay at Calder House
In 1848 Frédéric Chopin left Paris in spite of his poor health due to his precarious financial situation. His student Jane Stirling , who had also become his closest confidante and manager after his separation from George Sand , had persuaded him to go on a concert tour through England and Scotland. They visited numerous wealthy relatives of Jane Stirling in Scotland, including her brother-in-law the then Lord Torphichen at Calder House.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ Entry on Calder House in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)
Web links
- Entry on Calder House in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
Coordinates: 55 ° 53 ′ 21.9 ″ N , 3 ° 29 ′ 4 ″ W.