Lodges And Gate Piers, Yester House

Lodges and gate piers at Yester House were designed by John Adam between 1753 and 1760. This identical pair of single-storey classical lodges, built from 1753 to 1758, flank giant piers and decorative iron gates, which were wrought by Hillcoat of Newcastle in 1760, likely following John Adam's designs.

The lodges are constructed from red rubble sandstone with ashlar dressings, featuring base and eaves courses, rusticated quoins, and a moulded cornice. They have a rectangular plan with a three-bay elevation facing the Avenue, each bay containing a window. The two-bay return elevation towards the drive includes a window in the northern bay and entrance gates and piers linking to the southern bay. The three-bay southern elevation towards the drive has a doorway in an open, consoled, pedimented bay at the center, which includes a panelled door with a small-pane fanlight and a blind oculus, with a window in each flanking bay. The windows have a 12-pane glazing pattern in sash and case style. The roof is a bell-cast, grey slate, piend roof with lead flashings, and there is a corniced ashlar stack at the center, along with a slate-hung, flat-roofed dormer addition.

The gate piers are made of red sandstone ashlar and are square in section, reaching the full height of the lodges. Each pier features attached, coupled Doric columns facing The Avenue, a semi-circular niche with a blank panel above facing the drive, and a full entablature with a deep cornice and a triglyph and metope frieze. Balustraded pedestrian gateways connect the piers to the lodges.

The gates are ornate, featuring gilded wrought-iron work with a monogram and coronet above the two-leaf wrought-iron gates and side panels. Simpler wrought-iron gates are found in the pedestrian gateways flanking the piers.

Additionally, there are wrought and cast-iron retaining railings that are attached to the lodges, set on coped parapets.