Raith House

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Raith House is a mansion in the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy in the Council Area Fife . In 1972 the building was included as an individual monument in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A. Furthermore, the associated manor is classified separately as a Category A structure.

history

Raith was the first land to be acquired by the up-and-coming Melville family in Fife. Alexander Melville, Lord Raith had Raith House built there in 1694. The Scottish architect James Smith , who had already planned two similar houses with Newhailes House and Strathleven House, was responsible for the design . In 1725 Robert Ferguson bought the property. His heir William had Raith House redesigned and expanded. The pavilions date from 1785. James Playfair designed the interior. An Ionic portico was replaced around 1800. The property is inherited within the family.

description

Raith House stands on the western edge of Kirkcaldy. The masonry of the two-story mansion consists of rubble stone with natural stone details. The facades were previously plastered with Harl . The north-west facing main facade of the Corps de Logis of the Palladian building is seven axes wide. A one-storey pilastrated portico emerges from the central projections, which are three axes wide . A seven-step staircase leads up to the entrance portal. The two-winged entrance portal closes with a combat window . In the tympanum of the triangular gable , elaborately sculptured cartouches flank a coat of arms. Six and twelve-part lattice windows are installed along the facade . A cornice runs beneath the slate-covered platform roof . Seven axes of wide pavilions emerge flanking the building. Lighter sandstone surrounds contrast the brickwork , which is made of roughly cut dark stone.

grange

Around 100 m north-west of the manor house is the classicist manor house. It was built by William Playfair around 1785. The one or two-story, elongated buildings completely enclose an inner courtyard. In the middle of the nine-axis wide, south-facing main facade, a segmental arched doorway leads to the inner courtyard. Cornices crown the flanking niches and windows. On the main facade, roughly cut stone was used, while the remaining walls are made of quarry stone.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .

Web links

Coordinates: 56 ° 6 ′ 46.3 "  N , 3 ° 11 ′ 51.6"  W.