Priorwood House, Polton Bank, Polton

Priorwood House, Polton Bank, Polton

Priorwood House is a 2-storey classical house built in the earlier to mid-19th century, with later alterations and additions. Originally designed with a symmetrical 5-bay plan, the building is constructed of grey sandstone ashlar with polished ashlar dressings on the northwest elevation; the sides and rear are of stugged sandstone. The principal façade features an advanced 5-light bay to the left of centre, while a single-storey addition extends to the northeast. A rectangular plan garage stands to the east.

The northwest (principal) elevation displays a grouped composition of 1-3-1 bays with the addition to the northeast. The central 3-bay group is slightly advanced and features a prominent square-plan pedimented and corniced doorcase with Doric columns, a timber-panelled door with multi-pane fanlight above, and a window at first-floor level. To the right are windows at each floor within the bay; to the left stands a tripartite window with single windows to the returns at each floor, contained within an advanced squared bay. The outer right and left bays are set back and contain windows at both levels. The single-storey addition to the northeast comprises 3 stepped bays, with windows distributed across the addition and one return.

The southeast (rear) elevation is a symmetrical 5-bay arrangement with a slightly advanced central 3-bay group. A stair window occupies the centre bay, whilst the flanking bays contain modern French windows at ground level with windows above. Windows appear in the outer right bay at both levels. The outer left bay is occupied by a modern conservatory at ground level with a first-floor window above.

The southwest elevation comprises 4 bays with a projecting conservatory to the right. Windows flank the centre bay at ground level, with a first-floor window above; a wallhead stack rises above. The left bay contains a boarded window, and a 2-leaf door with tilt fanlight sits in the right bay.

The northeast (service wing) elevation is irregular, consisting of 3 bays. A boarded window occupies the centre bay at ground level, with a non-aligned wallhead stack above. A square-plan single-storey addition at ground level in the left bay features a timber-panelled door and multi-paned fanlight, with a further lower projecting block advanced to the northeast and a first-floor window above. A 4-bay single-storey projection extends from the right bay at ground level. The left return contains a part-glazed door and windows in each bay to the left of centre, with a boarded door in the outer right bay.

Fenestration throughout consists of 12-pane and 2-pane timber sash-and-case windows, supplemented by small-pane French windows to the rear and lying pane windows to parts of the service wing. The roof is covered with grey slate, arranged in a piended profile; the addition and conservatory are also slate-covered. Twin polished ashlar, coped octagonal stacks linked by a keystone arch sit to the northeast and southwest; grouped octagonal wallhead stacks rise from the central 3-bay block. Cast iron rainwater goods complete the external fabric.

The interior retains architraved timber-panelled doors, some of which curve with the walls in the dressing room. Decorative plaster cornices and dado rails survive in parts. Three chimmneypieces are recorded: a late 18th-century timber composition example, an early 19th-century timber example, and a variegated marble example.

The property is bounded by squared sandstone rubble walls with ashlar cope. Tapered square-plan sandstone ashlar gatepiers with base course, cornice and square cap (shared with the separately listed De Quincey Cottage) support replacement wrought-iron gates.