Pittencrieff House, Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline

Pittencrieff House

Pittencrieff House is a large residential building of 17th-century origin, first built in the earlier-to-mid-17th century for Sir Alexander Clerk of Pittencrieff. The structure was significantly enlarged by raising an additional storey in 1731. A major restoration and interior remodelling took place between 1908 and 1911, undertaken by architect Sir Robert Lorimer, during which a parapet wall was also constructed.

The house is a substantial three-storey structure with an attic and basement, arranged in a rectangular plan over eight bays. Its most distinctive feature is a central projecting stair tower on the principal south elevation. Both end gables of the main block are crow-stepped. The exterior is harled with painted stone dressings, a concreted base course, and a moulded eaves cornice. Vertical stone margins run along the sides, except at the east end of the main block. Stone surrounds to windows and doors are of flush design.

The principal south elevation centres on the entrance tower, with its opening positioned slightly to the right. The entrance features a roll-moulded surround on its left return and an inscribed stone panel below a moulded cornice reading "PRAISED.BE.GOD.FOR.AL.HIS.GIFTES." Above the entrance hangs a 12-panel timber door with decorative copper handle and a carved coat of arms panel of Alexander Clerk. Two small windows at higher levels flank the entrance, the upper one with a carved semicircular pediment. Two further small windows at different levels serve the stair tower, with a pair of windows to its projecting upper storey. The fenestration to the main block is slightly irregular, with three windows to the left on the ground and second floors, and four on the first floor; to the right are two windows on the ground and second floors and three on the first floor. The date 1731 is carved into the skewputt on the right.

The north elevation displays irregular fenestration throughout. An entrance with a stone surround and rectangular fanlight featuring ornamental glazing bars sits to the outer right, fitted with a 9-panel timber door. Five ground floor windows line the left portion, with four windows to the first floor and five to the second floor flanking a central wallhead stack.

The west elevation contains two ground floor windows, with one window positioned to the right serving both the first and second floors; the second-floor window is distinguished by a shaped pediment with heraldic emblem. A small blocked attic window appears to the right.

The east elevation includes an entrance with stone surround and part-glazed replacement timber door to the left, with a window above serving both the first and second floors; the second-floor window features a keystone and carved semicircular pediment. A small blocked attic window is located to the left.

Windows throughout are predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case. The roof is of grey slate, hipped over the stair tower. Chimney stacks are harled, with pairs flanking either end of the main block and a wallhead stack serving the north elevation. Stone coping runs along the gables and wallhead, except to the east gable stack, which has concrete coping.

The interior retains large principal rooms on each floor, each fitted with decorative plaster ceilings and panelling designed by Sir Robert Lorimer based on 17th-century types. The ground floor ceiling appears to derive from an in situ 17th-century original. The upper floor features a barrel-vaulted ceiling with strapwork, bearing carved figures of Industry, Prudence, Justice and Generosity on the end walls. An original moulded stone turnpike staircase remains, fitted with an early 20th-century wrought-iron balustrade incorporating a thistle at its head.

The parapet wall, constructed during Lorimer's restoration works, runs along the edge of the terrace overlooking the glen immediately north of the house. It follows the house line except for two V-plan projections to the north at either end. The wall is constructed of stugged sandstone with ashlar dressings. Its terminating piers are of square plan and feature chamfered and stepped detail in three tiers above the wall level, each tier separated by a band course; the top band course adjoins a curved cap.