Bonshaw Tower And House

Rectangular-plan tower house, probably mid 16th century, with

1770 2-storey country house to NE, latter with classical

details and with various additions including 1841-2

alterations and additions by Peter Smith, mason and James

Scott, joiner, re-using material of the "old mansion house of

Bonshaw"; tower linked to house 1896 by low corridor. All

rubble-built with ashlar dressings; slated roofs. All

arranged around forecourt at head of steep cliff to E and to

S.

Tower: 4 storeys, horizontal gun loops to elevations above

splayed base course, openings above mostly roll-moulded

bipartites or slits: corbelled plain parapet with

machicolations; crow-stepped gables (crow steps set forward

at NE over internal wheel stair) with end stack at S;

roof-pitch lowered, N-facing former attic light in gable apex

now serves as an open belfry. Corridor encloses tower outer

door and yett: roll-moulded doorway with cornice and panel

recess above.

Interior: monogramed pendant boss within doorway; ground

floor vaulted, with prison cell and stone girnal, wheel stair

within NE angle; wide roll-moulded fireplace at principal

(1st) floor, stone window seats and aumbries; fireplace in

2nd floor, and garderobe.

House: precise development not clear; earliest part seemingly

a 1770 2-storey, 3-bay hose with Doric-columned and

pedimented porch and piended roof; E flank single bay; long

3-bay W elevation altered - possibly 1841-2 (though perhaps

earlier) - with full-height bow added to right, left bay

raised to full height. Continuous eaves band and cornice:

corniced stacks. Tall lean-to fills re-entrant angle;

crow-stepped service wing to N.

Link: roll-moulded slit openings and forecourt door; re-used bolection-moulded doorway incorporated in W wall; concealed

roof. Masked cavetto skewputt incorporated in interior wall.

Courtyard: crenellated low wall over steep slope largely

rebuilt 1895 (dated); some 17th-early 18th century stones

incorporated including roll-moulded jambs and broken

pediment.