Orangery, Arniston House

Arniston House is an exceptionally fine Palladian country house, begun by William Adam between 1726 and 1733, with the west jamb and orangery added by John Adam between 1754 and 1758, a porch added by Wardrop and Reid in 1872, and the north pediment rebuilt by Robert Rowand Anderson in the late 19th century. The main body of the house rises three storeys over a basement and is nine bays wide. It is built of tooled coursed pinkish sandstone rubble, originally harled, with polished dressings, random rubble wings, a base course, a dividing band course between the basement and ground floors, long-and-short V-jointed rusticated quoins, relieving arches, and a moulded eaves course.

NORTH (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION

The north elevation is symmetrical. The main corps de logis has its bays grouped 2–5–2. At its centre, a single-storey, three-bay tooled coursed ashlar porch, added in 1872 by Wardrop and Reid, projects forward. This porch has a round-arched doorway at its centre with a Gibbs surround, flanked by engaged Tuscan columns and surmounted by an open pediment enclosing a scrolled cartouche bearing the initials "RD" for Robert Dundas. The door itself is a two-leaf panelled timber door. The flanking bays of the porch have round-arched niches with Gibbs surrounds on Tuscan pilasters, and the porch angles are clasped by Tuscan blocked pilaster buttresses. The left and right returns of the porch feature Venetian windows, blocked pilasters to the angles, and a continuous moulded cornice with a coped balustrade. Round-arched windows sit above the small basement windows of the porch at the re-entrant angles.

On the first floor of the central section, three niches with keystones occupy the centre bays. Above these, three architraved windows rise to the second floor, surmounted by a carved pediment — rebuilt around 1890 — enclosing the Dundas and Oliphant coat of arms and supported on four engaged Ionic columns. The two flanking sections have regular fenestration. The outer bays are slightly advanced, with small windows with rusticated surrounds to the basement, windows with keystone and Gibbs surrounds to the ground floor, a dividing band course, architraved windows with keystones to the first floor, and windows with moulded surrounds to the second floor. A continuous dentil-moulded cornice runs above, with a coped balustrade.

The links connecting the corps de logis to the pavilions are angled and symmetrical, two storeys tall and three bays wide, having been raised from single storey by Wardrop and Reid in 1877. Each has a polygonal-headed doorway to the centre bay with a Gibbs surround — glazed on the left link, panelled on the right — surmounted by a pediment. Pilasters support a basket-arched frame at the angles. The flanking bays of each link have octagonal windows with Gibbs surrounds at ground floor level, and single windows above, each with a keystone and moulded surround. A moulded cornice sits above with a coped balustrade and urn finials.

The pavilions are symmetrical, with regular fenestration on their north elevations. The three-bay inner returns have Venetian windows to the centre of the ground floor, regular fenestration to the flanking bays, two small windows to the centre of the first floor, and regular fenestration to the flanking bays.

WEST ELEVATION

The west elevation of the main corps de logis is symmetrical, two storeys over a basement, and six bays wide. The basement has nine-pane windows with keystones and rusticated surrounds. The ground floor has pedimented windows with moulded surrounds. The outer left bay of the basement and ground floor is masked by the link. The second floor has architraved windows.

The west elevation of the west pavilion is four bays wide. The ground floor has an infilled doorway to the centre, with a panelled timber door with a two-pane fanlight to the right and a window to the outer right. Two small windows occupy the centre two bays of the first floor, with windows to the outer right and left bays. A later wing is advanced to the outer right; this elevation was not inspected in 1997. The left return (courtyard elevation) is dated 1888 on a shouldered wallhead stack, and has a glazed door to the left bay at ground floor level, with regular fenestration to the remainder.

SOUTH ELEVATION

The south elevation is symmetrical. The corps de logis is built in tooled random rubble, seven bays wide, grouped 2–3–2. A three-bay flat-roofed porch, dated to around 1800, is advanced to the centre, rising through the basement and ground floors, with a perron stair of the same date in front. The basement of the porch has six-pane barred windows, blind to the centre, and a balustraded dividing band course above. At ground floor level, each bay of the porch has a large window flanked by engaged Corinthian columns supporting a moulded frieze. Glazed two-leaf timber doors with two-pane fanlights are set in the left and right returns, reached by balustraded swept stone steps dating from around 1800.

The broader south elevation has regular fenestration to the basement and ground floors. The centre three bays at first floor level have round-arched windows with keystones, and three nine-pane windows above at second floor level break the eaves cornice. The whole is surmounted by a pediment incorporating a carved Scottish Royal Coat of Arms with thistle and rose, and the motto "NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSET", itself surmounted by a pair of sphinxes. The flanking bays have regular fenestration.

The left link on the south elevation is five bays wide, with some bays to the left obscured by trees. The penultimate bay to the right has a window at first floor level with a moulded surround and keystone, and a small window to the outer right of the ground floor. Windows occupy the first floor of the flanking bays. Pilasters support a basket-arched frame at the angles, and the blocking course has stone urns at the angles.

The right link has a doorway set off-centre to the right of the centre bay, with a two-leaf timber door reached by stone steps, and a window above at first floor level. Windows occupy the centre of the flanking bays at first floor level. A barred window sits off-centre to the left of the ground floor of the right bay. Pilasters support a basket-arched frame at the angles, and the blocking course has stone urns at the angles. The right return has two windows to the ground floor of the left bay, a blank panel above, and windows to both the ground and first floors of the right bay. A window occupies the ground floor of a recessed bay further to the outer right, with a blind window above at first floor level.

EAST ELEVATION

The east elevation of the corps de logis is symmetrical, six bays wide, with regular fenestration to all floors. The outer right bays at basement and ground floor level are masked by the link, and there are blind windows to the first and second floors above.

The east elevation of the east pavilion is asymmetrical and five bays wide. Large round-arched doorways occupy the centre bay, the penultimate bay to the right, and the outer right bay at ground floor level. The centre and penultimate right bays have glazed two-leaf doors; the outer right bay opens to a garage and is flanked by a small window. The penultimate bay to the left has an infilled round-arched doorway, and the outer left bay is blank. The first floor has irregular fenestration.

ORANGERY AND WEST OUTBUILDINGS

The orangery and west outbuildings date from around 1753. They are two storeys tall and were originally arranged in a U plan, with the courtyard now roofed over. They are linked to the west of the house by a single-storey lean-to with a corrugated iron roof and two two-leaf boarded timber doors on its north elevation. A random rubble wall with polished gatepiers to the north of the lean-to forms a courtyard to the rear of the west pavilion.

The north elevation of the outbuildings is asymmetrical and seven bays wide. Round-arched doorways with impost detail occupy the centre bay and the penultimate bays to the left and right. There is a doorway to the bay immediately right of centre, and a window to the bay immediately left of centre, flanked by two further windows. A blind window sits to the outer right, and a window to the outer left is flanked by a small window to its right. Large louvred openings appear in the penultimate bay to the right and the outer right bay, with regular fenestration to the remainder.

The west elevation of the outbuildings is three bays wide. The centre bay was originally an open courtyard and is now covered by a gabled timber roof. The inside left return has irregular fenestration. The bay to the right has an infilled doorway set off-centre to the left of the ground floor, with a blind window above. The outer right bay contains the Venetian doorway to the orangery itself, set in a recessed round arch, with a boarded glazed two-leaf timber door and an eight-pane fanlight.

The south elevation is the principal orangery facade. It is seven bays wide, symmetrical, and built of droved snecked sandstone rubble with polished dressings. The centre bay has a round-arched doorway set in a recessed round arch, with a boarded glazed two-leaf timber door and an eight-pane fanlight. The remaining bays have round-arched windows with long-and-short voussoirs and impost details.

The east elevation is seven bays wide and near-symmetrical. The centre of the ground floor has a large window opening flanked by two panelled timber doors, with regular fenestration to the three central bays of the first floor. The outer bays are advanced. The ground floor of the penultimate bay to the left and the outer left bay are obscured by the lean-to described above, though the first floor has regular fenestration. The penultimate bay to the right has a window at ground floor level, and the outer right bay has a doorway at ground floor level and a single window at first floor level. There is a small rooflight to the centre.

STABLES, EAST OUTBUILDINGS AND EAST COURTYARD

The stables and east outbuildings are two storeys tall and arranged in a U plan. They are linked to the east of the main house at the rear of the east pavilion by a random rubble wall to the south, which has a boarded timber door, and a coursed rubble coped wall to the north that sweeps down to the east and terminates at polished gatepiers with spherical caps, enclosing a cobbled courtyard that retains its mounting block.

The north elevation is nine bays wide and near-symmetrical. The third and seventh bays from the left have round-arched doorways at ground floor level with two-leaf boarded timber doors and five-pane fanlights. The remaining bays of the ground floor have regular fenestration, and there are five windows to the first floor, the outermost right one breaking the eaves.

The west elevation is seven bays wide and asymmetrical. The centre bay and the flanking bay to its left have wide round-arched doorways at ground floor level with glazed boarded timber doors, now used as garages. A 20th-century lean-to addition is advanced to the flanking bay to the right, with a window and a boarded timber door on its left return and a slate roof. A piended dormer sits at the centre of the first floor, and a small four-pane window serves the flanking bay to the right. The outer bays are advanced, each with a doorway with a relieving arch at ground floor level and boarded timber doors, with a piended dormer above at first floor level. There is also a piended dormer to the penultimate bay to the right at first floor level; the penultimate bay to the left is blank. A pall stone marks the outer left corner.

The south elevation is partially obscured by trees and is seven bays wide, with a round-arched window with impost detail to each bay.

The east elevation is three bays wide, with the centre bay recessed. It is largely obscured by two timber lean-to additions to the inside returns. The inside right return has a window opening breaking the eaves with a catslide roof. The outer right bay has windows set off-centre to the right at both ground and first floor levels. The outer left bay has a large opening with a metal lintel at ground floor level and a window opening set off-centre to the left at first floor level.

The east courtyard is enclosed by walls of tooled snecked rubble with droved dressings and polished ashlar coping to the south, east, and north, with the stables and outbuildings forming the west boundary. There is an opening to the west of the north wall, and a lean-to shelter with a corrugated iron roof lines the inside of the north wall. The floor is cobbled.

WINDOWS AND ROOFS

Windows throughout are predominantly twelve-pane timber sash and case, with the thicker astragals largely dating from the William Adam scheme. Roofs are piended grey slate with lead ridges. The chimneys are primarily double and triple corniced ashlar ridge stacks with circular cans. Rainwater goods are mainly cast iron, with some lead downpipes and decorative hoppers.

INTERIOR

The entrance hall is arcaded through two storeys and features baroque plasterwork by Joseph Enzer, executed between 1730 and 1735. It also contains a clock dated 1592, originally from the earlier tower house on the site, now housed in an 18th-century case by Francis Brodie of Edinburgh.

The Oak Room has fine panelling, a basket-arched William Adam fireplace with late 19th-century overmantles, and opens into a porch of around 1800 leading to the garden.

The old library on the second floor has plasterwork by Enzer, including an elaborate frieze and plaster vaults. The original bookcases are now grained and house a porcelain collection.

The dining room, restored in 1995, and the drawing room, restored in 1997, are both in the west range by John Adam, dating from 1753. The plasterwork in the drawing room was designed by John Adam and executed by Philip Robertson in 1762–63. Both rooms had previously been affected by dry rot discovered in 1957.

The new library was designed by Thomas Brown and Adam Lumsden in 1866–68 and has a fireplace in Jacobean style inscribed "ELD 1868 RD." The remains of a railway once used to transport food from the old kitchen to the dining room are also present.

HA-HA

A stone ha-ha runs from east to west to the north of the house.

SUNDIAL

A sundial stands at the centre of the south lawn. It is of circular plan with egg-and-dart carving around the base of the shaft, gadrooning to the base of the waisted neck, and a gnomon ornamented with a raised thistle.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Arniston House is an exceptionally fine example of a country house designed for what Sir John Clerk of Penicuik described as "convenience and use." The land on which the Arniston Estate stands was originally used by King Malcolm for hunting from Edinburgh Castle and changed hands numerous times over subsequent centuries. After the Reformation the property was divided into several units, the most significant of which was bought in 1571 by George Dundas, 16th Laird of the Dundas Estate, as an inheritance for his son James from his second marriage to Katherine Oliphant — the union of the two families being represented by the Elephant of the Oliphant family and the Lion of the Dundas family on the north lodges (listed separately). George Dundas already had an heir to his existing estate at South Queensferry from his first marriage, so Arniston passed to James, who took over around 1600. The original house is thought to have been built around 1620 and was a U-plan building with a large walled garden. James extended the estate by buying farms such as Castleton (listed separately). His grandson Robert inherited in 1679 and, on returning from exile in Holland in 1689, began to improve Arniston, intending to build a new house and lay out grounds in the manner of the continental mansions he had seen. Improvements to the gardens were begun, but it was Robert's son — also called Robert — who commissioned William Adam to design the new mansion.

The design for the present house was clearly influenced by James Gibbs's design for Down Hall in Essex, though it was by no means a copy. Adam was also inspired by the ideas of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, for whom he had designed Mavisbank (completed 1727). Clerk's poem The Country Seat described the "useful" country house — one that Arniston undoubtedly was, being also a design of good taste blending the cultivated with the natural, as described by A. A. Tait. William Adam's design was based on the foundations of the existing 17th-century house. In its original form the house was entered through a three-bay temple front with a rusticated ground floor and round-arched openings, now masked by the 1872 porch. The three niches above, intended to contain portrait busts, still survive. The remainder of the house was originally harled rubble with single-storey passages to the service pavilions.

The building was not completed until the mid-18th century, as Robert ran out of money, and by that time William Adam had died. His son John Adam took on the commission in 1753 for Robert, 4th Lord Arniston. John Adam was responsible for the west range, which he adapted to current taste by replacing the double-height apartments with the dining room and drawing room.

William Adam's arrangement for the grounds — apparently carried out to the south — mixed the formal with the informal and comprised a bastioned parterre, a wilderness, a great avenue, a cascade, and a basin. From the 1750s onwards there was a long period of improvement principally involving the informalisation of the grounds. John Adam continued to work on the grounds where his father had left off and was responsible for some of the changes. By 1764 the parterre and cascade had gone. In 1791 Thomas White prepared an improvement and informalisation plan for the grounds; although little of this was actually carried out, the gardens did become more informal towards the beginning of the 19th century.

The Scottish Royal Coat of Arms within the pediment of the south elevation, like some of the stones on the rustic bridges in the sunken garden (listed separately), possibly originated on Parliament House in Edinburgh, which was refaced by Robert Reid in 1803.