Potting Shed, Walled Gardens, Raehills House

This is a potting shed, likely dating to circa 1834 and possibly designed by William Burn. It forms part of a symmetrical arrangement of two walled gardens, the northern of which was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A central courtyard separates the gardens, bisected by a high linking wall featuring a basket archway. This wall abuts a single-story cottage to the north and a long range of lean-to potting sheds opposite. The western court entrance is flanked by hoodmoulded and round-headed garden gateways, alongside ornamental, circular “sentinel boxes.” A conical-roofed circular structure, possibly a fruit store, stands at the southeast angle of the inner court.

A three-bay cottage is situated in the re-entrant angle of the dividing wall, featuring a piended porch to the court supported on a single Doric column. It has sash windows with a vertical glazing pattern and end stacks. Low flanking wings are present, with the western wing concealed and integrated into the walled garden, though featuring dummy slits. The eastern wing has a recessed long range of sheds adjoining it.

The main elevations of the principal buildings are in red ashlar, while the remainder are mostly rubble-built, all with slate roofs. The garden walls enclose each area, with curved end walls furthest from the courtyard. The southern enclosure has high rubble walls, while the northern enclosure primarily uses brick with plain iron railings. A smaller, ashlar-walled enclosure is located at the southern edge, closest to the house.