White House, 12 Fala Dam, Fala Dam

The White House is a house dating from the later 18th century, situated at 12 Fala Dam. It is a rectangular, two-storey building originally with three bays, later extended by a single-storey addition to the south. The walls are of harled rubble, with a skew gabled design.

The east, or principal, elevation features a central doorway flanked by a downpipe and window. The first floor has regularly placed windows, and the attic is lit by a two-pane rooflight. The north elevation shows a gable end with deep, plain stone skews and a single window to the first floor. A gablehead chimney rises from this elevation, featuring neck copes and paired plain chimney pots. The west, or rear, elevation has an irregular window arrangement, overlooking a lane between properties. The south elevation is defined by the single-storey extension that looks out over the garden.

The windows are 9-pane wooden sash and case windows. The roof is of grey slate, piended in style, and has replacement metal rainwater goods. The interior was unrecorded during a 2000 inspection.

The White House is located in Fala Dam, a good example of a relatively unspoiled hamlet. The hamlet takes its name from the dam situated in the Cakemuir Burn and was visited by Bonnie Prince Charlie on 3rd November 1745, when he was entertained by the Andersons of Whitburgh. In 1800, Lady Forrester died in one of the older cottages after escaping from her residence in Corstorphine. A reference to the property appears in J Hunter’s "Fala and Soutra" published in 1892.