Crawford Priory

Crawford Priory is a Gothic mansion house, initially designed in 1809 by David Hamilton and significantly altered between 1811 and 1813 for Lady Mary Lindsay Crawford by James Gillespie Graham. Further restoration and additions were carried out in 1872 by William Little.

The original design by David Hamilton, inspired by a Gothic chapel, is most evident in the south elevation. It features a central projecting bay flanked by octagonal piers, rising to pinnacles, with a Romanesque doorway and a tiered, multi-light window above, all set within a gable. Four outer bays follow a similar pattern with terminal piers and pinnacles. Windows connect the ground and first floors vertically. The first-floor level is defined by a transom, perpendicular tracery, a balustrade, and an east gable parapet pierced with decorative details. Around 1870, a two-story canted window was added to the east gable end.

To the west of Hamilton’s range, Gillespie Graham added a two-story wing and a tall, Gothic, castellated rectangular block, of three bays by five bays. The corners are marked by octagonal castellated turrets, with each bay on the long elevations divided by buttresses that turn to a semi-octagonal form at the first floor, capped with corbelled castellated details. The west elevation has three bays. The central bay originally featured a window under a crocketed ogee arch, which was converted to a doorway around 1870, creating a large projecting Gothic porch and porte cochere. Above this, a three-light window sits under a Tudor hood mould. The central bay is flanked by drum piers, panelled above the first floor and topped with castellated caps, culminating in a corbelled parapet. Triple-light Y-tracery windows are found in the outer ground floor bays, with triple round-arched lights above, set under four-centred hood moulds. The south elevation is characterised by Y-tracery and pointed arched ground floor windows, paired above in square panels. A corbelled, castellated parapet, substantially enlarged in 1870, extends to the rear, encompassing a service court and tower. A chapel, situated on the east side, exhibits a semi-octagonal bay with cusped and traceried windows, a corbelled parapet, and a facetted roof with lucarnes.

The interior features elaborate Gothic plasterwork. A fan-vaulted hall and a rib-vaulted entrance hall are key features, with a screen to the Hamilton range designed by Gillespie Graham. Other notable elements include a cantilevered oval staircase and a second oak staircase. The property also boasts fine Gothic panelled doors and elaborate marble chimney pieces. The chapel was elaborately painted by Thomas Bonnar and features a hammer beam roof and three two-light stained glass windows. The interior is currently in a state of advanced decay.

The original house, Crawford Lodge, was likely built around 1758. Copies of drawings for the new house, dating to around 1780, are held within the National Records of Scotland. A fine 18th-century classical chimney piece from the original house was removed to Balcarres. Architectural merit is assessed as category A, although the building's current condition is significantly deteriorated.