Warehouse, Grange Distillery, Grange Road, Burntisland

Warehouse, Grange Distillery, Grange Road, Burntisland

A 2-storey building with basement, built in the early 19th century, standing as a 3-storey structure on the falling ground to its rear. The building is a 3-bay house incorporating office space, constructed in dressed ashlar with long and shortwork quoins.

The northeast (entrance) elevation is symmetrical, featuring 3 steps leading to a centre deep-set panelled door with a radial-astragalled fanlight housed in a Doric-columned doorcase. Windows in the flanking bays and a small window at ground level to the right (lighting the basement) are set above a moulded chamfer at the outer right corner. Regular bays rise to the first floor.

The southwest (rear) elevation adjoins the boundary wall of Grange Distillery to the right. The ground floor contains blocked windows at the centre and in flanking bays, while regular bays rise through the first and second floors. A modern rooflight sits at the centre, flanked by 19th-century rooflights.

The northwest elevation features a door set under a relieving arch to the left of centre within a single-storey pitch-roofed kitchen wing (rebuilt in 1994). The southeast elevation displays a basement door to the left, a blocked window at approximately the centre, and a further window to the right; at ground and first floor level there is a window to the left.

Sash and case windows throughout feature a 12-pane glazing pattern. The roof is finished in grey slates with coped ashlar stacks crowned by polygonal cans and ashlar coped skews.

The interior retains significant classical detailing. A radial-astragalled fanlight sits above a panelled interior door in the vestibule, which features delicate cornicing and ceiling plasterwork of classical design. The original office retains a locking cupboard with cash drawers and pigeon-hole shelving. The principal room displays timber pilasters, an Ionic cornice, an arched alcove, and a timber and gesso fireplace with classical swags, urns and cornicing. Cast-iron fireplaces (one with a pot-stand), working shutters, plain timber panelling, and a curved stone stair with plain cast-iron balusters and timber handrail complete the interior.

Saddleback-coped rubble boundary walls enclose the property.

According to Barnard's account, this building was originally "the old-fashioned mansion, formerly the residence of the proprietor of the Distillery" and was subsequently converted into "fine offices for the clerks, managers and principals", suggesting a dating of 1806 when the distillery was rebuilt.

Grange Distillery was established in 1767 as a brewery under the proprietorship of Messrs. Boog and Thomson. In 1786 it was converted to a distillery, with Messrs. Young becoming involved in the business. The firm was licensed to William Young & Company in 1813 and continued operating until at least 1986. The distillery occupied a 6-acre site and was self-sufficient, maintaining its own coopers, joiners, stables, fire-engine, gasworks and excisemen, feeding byres, malt barn and bonded warehouses. At its peak, the distillery produced 260,000 gallons of lowland malt annually and provided regular employment for approximately 100 men and 50 horses. The New Statistical Account records that despite the nature of their employment, "the men, in general, are sober and steady".

The Young family held extensive property in and around Burntisland. William Young of Dunearn served as provost in 1831–34 and 1848–51. The family was highly regarded in the town and presented the Music Hall (Thistle Street) to the Burgh in 1869. Members of the Young family are buried in the graveyard of the old Kirk at Kirkton.

The Warehouse, Long Byre, Grange Flats, Grange Distillery Cottage and Main Gateway at the distillery are listed separately.