South Range and Gatehouse, Falkland Palace

South Range and Gatehouse, Falkland Palace

This Grade A listed building comprises the south range, gatehouse, and cross house of a three-sided quadrangular palace structure, with origins dating from the mid-15th century. The palace was begun by James II and underwent significant development and restoration across several centuries.

The North Quarter, built in the mid-15th century, originally contained a great hall similar in plan form to that at Stirling. It was renovated from 1502 onwards but was burnt in 1654; only foundations now remain.

The East Quarter dates from circa 1500-12 and comprises a three-storey structure with a vaulted ground floor. The courtyard facade was recast from 1537 by John Merlioun, with the original rubble work left exposed. It features a six-bay treatment with Corinthian columned buttresses and roundels to match the south range work executed by Nicholas Roy and Moses Martin. A circular stair tower, known as the 'dovecot', is positioned at the north-east corner. The vaulted ground floor and courtyard facade with its surviving dormerheads remain largely intact, though the remainder is much ruined.

At the centre of the east front stands the Cross House, a rectangular tower dating from circa 1500-12 with a circular stair turret at the north-east. It was substantially rebuilt from first floor level upwards in the 1890s, except for the stair turret which had largely survived. The decoration of the King James V room was carried out by W. Schomberg Scott and David McClure.

The South Quarter originally dates from circa 1501-12 and comprises three storeys with an attic (the tall second floor housing a chapel). It features a vaulted ground floor and a northern lean-to corridor. The range was completely refaced in ashlar between 1537 and 1541, with Thomas French and James Black working during 1538-9 on the six-bay late Gothic south front. This front is distinguished by niched buttresses with statuary carved by Peter Flemishman, square-headed two-light windows on the second floor, and a rich corbelled and crenellated parapet. The north courtyard facade was executed by Nicholas Roy and Moses Martin between 1540 and 1541, featuring Corinthian columned buttresses and roundels with busts, mullioned and transomed second floor windows, and segmentally pedimented dormers displaying details of Loire School influence. The chapel ceiling was decorated with painted decoration in 1633. The original wooden screen remains, and the Royal Pew was reconstructed on the model of that at Scone, incorporating fragments of the original Falkland one.

The Gatehouse, also known as the Foirentre and tower with Captain's Chambers, was completed by John Brownhill and Henry Bawte between 1539 and 1541, evidently incorporating earlier work. It is a three-storey structure with a crenellated parapet and cap house, featuring a pend entry flanked on the south by round towers. A corridor on the north side was left unbuilt. The structure is ashlar-faced except at the site of the intended corridor. Panel embellishments were added during the 1893-6 restoration.

The building underwent considerable alteration around 1840, presumably under the supervision of William Burn for O. Tyndall Bruce. Burn's alterations were largely removed during extensive restorations and repairs carried out inside and out by John Kinross from 1893 onwards, with major work undertaken between 1893 and 1896. Elaborate painted decoration based on the paintings of David Scott was executed by Thomas Bonnar in 1895-6, and interior fittings were provided from the Bute workshops at Cardiff.

Historically, the keepership of Falkland passed through several notable families. In the 16th century, the Bethunes of Creich became hereditary keepers, the role passing by marriage to David Viscount Murray of Stormont, who built a house on the site of the original castle early in the 17th century (now demolished). The keepership subsequently passed to the Earl of Atholl during the Commonwealth and thence to the Dukes of Atholl. The property was acquired in 1787 by Skene of Pitlour and passed by marriage to the Moncrieffs of the Myres. In 1820, General George Moncrieff disposed of it to Professor John Bruce, whose niece brought it to O. Tyndall Bruce, who undertook repairs to the much-neglected south quarter and gatehouse in 1840. The property was acquired from the Bruces in 1887 by the 3rd Marquess of Bute, passing to Lord Ninian Crichton Stuart in 1900 and to Major Michael Crichton Stuart in 1915. It became a National Trust property with a Deputy Keeper appointed in 1952.

The building is a Scheduled Monument and groups with other items in Falkland Burgh.