Cumstoun House

Thomas Hamilton architect, 1827-9; additions and alterations

by Peddie and Kinnear, architects, 1896. Large Tudor Gothic

mansion, originally with near symmetrical tripartite plan,

Peddie and Kinnear's alterations obscure the original

entrance front. Some good Hamilton interiors survive.

Coursed rubble, polished red sandstone margins and details;

square or octagonal buttresses to angles rising to

castellated turret-finials giving lively roofline to N.

N (entrance) elevation: originally near symmetrical with

2-storey projecting gabled end bays, recessed 3-storey centre

bay with canted 2nd floor. After Peddie and Kinnear

alterations, left bay raised to 3 storeys with boldly

projecting 2-storey bay. Porch of polished red sandstone with

deep parapet originally to centre bay moved to right bay, and

replaced by single storey projecting passage.

S (garden) elevation: Hamilton design had near-symmetrical

proportions of bays with 3-window 3-storey centre bay flanked

by 2-storey narrower bays, that to left gabled. Centre bay

has ground floor of polished red sandstone and 2-storey

projecting canted window to centre with embattled parapet,

1st and 3rd floor windows Tudor arched with original

small-pane and Y-tracery glazing. Peddie and Kinnear

alterations give large recessed single storey wing to left,

right bay widened and raised to 3-storey, tripartite window

to ground, bipartite to 3rd. E elevation all 1891 work,

3-storey with 2-storey canted window to left.

Polished ashlar bands between floors, deep plain parapets,

slate roofs; axial stacks with tall grouped octagonal cans.

Interior: drawing room unaltered from Hamiltons work; Gothick

cusped woodwork to window ingoes, simple marble chimneypiece,

anthemion frieze, good door with cusped panelling. Dining

room relatively unaltered with similar cornice and marble

chimneypiece, otherwise interiors mainly Peddie and Kinnear.