Walled Gardens, Dalkeith House

Sizeable garden complex designed by Charles McIntosh, 1830s. Significant remaining walls to upper walled garden to the north, lower walled garden to the southeast and surviving boundary wall to the east.

Upper walled garden: rectangular-plan, east, west and south ranges intact with surviving curvilinear section of former frameyard wall to the far northwest and northeast (20th century brick wall to far rear (north) not to be listed). Uniform height wall built in brick running bond wall with ashlar copes, large number of iron nails surviving to wall surfaces. Slightly advanced, large, round arched carriage entrance to centre of southern range. Flanking segmentally arched recessed hearths at ground to inner south wall, remnants of iron pipes visible. Outer western wall has small segmental arch within wall set close to ground (possible blocked hearth). Eastern outer and inner wall has blocked doorway to southeast with remnants of sandstone dressings. Late 20th century single storey school occupies site to the north where glasshouses and offices originally stood (not to be listed). Later 19th century Garden House (see seperate listing, LB1433) on raised bank to immediate west.

Lower garden: irregular-plan partly walled former market garden (nursery, 2003) set beneath upper walled garden on steeply sloping site, terminated by River Esk to south. Coped random rubble walls; low north wall heightened slightly with red brick. East wall very tall in parts as descends slope, collapsed as approaches river bank, ashlar retaining wall to riverbank at corner, upper section collapsed. No evidence of boundary wall running along river to south. Tall wall to west with entrance to southwest. Boundary wall to east: extensive, coped, uniform height red brick wall creating enclosed area to east of upper garden; linking north point of lower walled garden with northeast frameyard wall. Fragments of stone strapwork (similar in style to that found on Dalkeith Park Conservatory, see separate listing, LB1410) adjacent to northern part of wall. Lugton Brae retaining wall to east of main entrance: tall rubble wall with round-headed coping, stretching from gatepier (inserted as main entrance in 20th century main) down considerable southeastern slope terminating and intersecting with western corner of Lower Garden.