Eskgrove, 3 Kevock Road, Lasswade

Eskgrove is an imposing mid-19th century house located at the top of Kevock Road in Lasswade, with later 19th century alterations and additions. It is a 2-storey, 3-bay residence constructed in cream ashlar sandstone with polished ashlar dressings. The principal north-west elevation features a rusticated base course, a cyma reversa moulding to ground floor cills, a cornice course between ground and first floors, a moulded cill course to the first floor, a moulded string course above the first floor canted window, and an eaves course with cornice and blocking course above. The window surrounds are finished with ovolo mouldings.

The north-west principal elevation comprises a raised architraved design with a central ground floor doorpiece that is further raised, stop-fluted, pilastered and pedimented. The door consists of deep-set 2-leaf timber panelled leaves with a rectangular fanlight above. A tripartite window occupies the ground floor of the left bay, with a bipartite window at first floor above. A full-height 3-light canted bay projects to the right, with a lean-to flank of the conservatory adjoining on dwarf, bull-faced walls.

The south-west elevation spans 7 bays, grouped 4-3, and is dominated by a late 19th century conservatory with a timber and glass superstructure on bull-faced sandstone dwarf walls. The conservatory is divided into two sections: a lean-to 3-bay block to the left of centre with floor at ground level, and a higher cruciform block projecting south-west from the right of centre, featuring a full-length lantern linking north-west and south-east gabled ends and two further gabled ends set at right angles. A 3-bay addition adjoins to the outer right. Windows pierce each elevation at both ground and first floor levels, with a slightly corbelled wallhead stack positioned between the outer and penultimate bays to the left.

The rear south-east elevation is 3-bay with two ranges projecting from the outer bays and linked to form a narrow courtyard by a round arch. A Serlian (blinded) window occupies the first floor of the central bay, with windows at first floor in the flanking bays.

The north-east elevation, grouped 5-4, comprises a 2-storey 4-bay original block to the right with a single-storey 4-bay addition projecting from the rear elevation. The original block contains windows at each floor in the left-of-centre bay and in the outer left bay, with a window at first floor in the right-of-centre and outer right bays. A slightly corbelled wallhead stack sits between the penultimate and outer right bays. The addition features a boarded door set high to a gabled bay at the centre, a bipartite window at ground in the left-of-centre bay, and windows in the remaining bays, including a bipartite window in the outer left bay.

Throughout the building, glazing includes a variety of 2- and 4-pane timber sash and case windows. The roof is finished in grey slate with piend and platform design, with slate covering the additions. Ashlar coped wallhead stacks feature on the south-west, north-east and south-east elevations, whilst a full-height rendered stack rises at the south angle. Cast-iron rainwater goods are installed throughout.

The interior was not inspected at the time of listing in 1996. The house was refurbished in the 1920s, with the entrance hall featuring a deep Art Nouveau frieze and embossed wallpaper. The conservatory ventilation mechanisms remain functional, and the cruciform portion was externally refurbished in 1990 by the current owner. The building was previously used as government research offices, during which period internal details including fireplaces were removed. The current owner has undertaken restoration and replacement of many missing details.

A rectangular-plan courtyard addition adjoins the rear, and a late 19th century octagonal summerhouse stands to the south-west of the house. The summerhouse, contemporary with the conservatory, features a timber and glass superstructure on a bull-faced ashlar sandstone base with an ashlar apron between. Three rear bays are completely timber-slatted with timber-framed windows topped by hoppers. A pavilion roof with integrated roof to the porch features decorative banded slatework, a red clay ridge to the porch roof, exposed rafters under the eaves, a spike finial to the pavilion roof, and cast-iron rainwater goods.

The boundary walls and gatepiers are constructed in squared and snecked sandstone rubble with curved ashlar cope. The gatepiers are chamfered square-plan sandstone ashlar with shallow pyramidal caps. These walls and piers were under relocation to improve access to a nursing home development to the rear of the building.