Gate Piers, Broomholm House

Dated 1749, Broomholm House is a two-storey, three-bay classical house with steeply pedimented inner bay and recessed single-storey flanking wings. A two-storey rear range is connected to the main house by a narrow link. The house is built of rubble with ashlar dressings and chamfered margins. The central door, on the south wall, is within a lugged architrave, featuring a pulvinated frieze and a pediment. It bears the date 1749 and the initials "M. M(axwell)". The house has plate glass sash windows, an eaves/lintel band, and a cornice. A keystoned oculus is set within the pediment. Straight skews are visible, as are margined and corniced end stacks, with a smaller stack above the pediment. The wings were altered in the 19th century, with enlarged single windows. The rear range has been raised and contains altered openings, a door, and small-paned windows on its north wall. The entire building is roofed with uniform slates.

Two square gate piers of ashlar stand to the south, topped with shaped caps and ball finials decorated with swags. An iron gate connects them, featuring plain vertical rails with ball knobs. It is suggested that the window cills on the first floor may have been lowered at some point.

Broomholm House was the home of John Maxwell, author of “Essay upon Tune,” and replaces an earlier tower, as noted in the Old Statistical Account. It is recorded in Groome’s Gazetteer.