Woodlands, Ford

Woodlands, Ford

Built in 1836 as a manse to house the minister of Ford Church, this 2-storey, 3-bay square plain house cost £500 at construction. It stands on a bank on the outskirts of Ford village, overlooking what was the old road to Lauder, approximately 200 yards from the church it served.

The main building is constructed of stugged ashlar with long and short quoins to the west and south elevations, with random rubble to the east and north; projecting ashlar sills and base course feature throughout. A later 2-storey extension to the rear is built partly in ashlar at ground floor with brick added to the second floor. A brick lean-to extension adjoins the right rear, and converted rubble outbuildings are also present on the site.

The south (principal) elevation features 2 stone steps leading to a panelled timber door with a multi-pane rectangular fanlight above. The door is set within a projecting architraved stone surround with a canopy and pediment supported by pilasters; a squared brass door bell is mounted on the right pilaster. Window openings flank the door, with 3 regularly placed bays and projecting sills at first floor level.

The east elevation has glazed French doors with a 2-pane fanlight above at ground floor right, opening onto a later paved walled terrace. Windows with projecting base sills occupy the first floor left and right positions. A wallhead chimney with stone neck cope sits centrally.

The north (rear) elevation comprises a single storey rubble lean-to at ground floor off-centre left with a window to the left return. The first floor main house wall is blind, with the ground floor concealed between extensions. A 2-storey extension sits off-centre right, with ashlar at ground floor and brick to the second floor added later; an entrance door with small rectangular window to the left sits on the right return, with a lowered wallhead stack. A single bay occupies both storeys at the far right.

The west elevation presents a blind wall with a single ground floor window to the right. A later small timber lean-to with double doors sits off-centre left. A wallhead stack with sloping base quoins and projecting neck copes stands centrally.

Most windows are 12-pane timber sash and case. The roof is piended grey slate with zinc ridging; outbuildings have pantiled roofs. Painted cast-iron rainwater goods are present, with 4 replacement cans to each stack.

The interior features a glazed and timber panelled hallway door, with cornicing and timber shuttering visible.

Boundary walls of random rubble and ashlar block with shaped stone copes surround the property. A pair of cylindrical ashlar gatepiers with rounded cushion capitals frame the entrance, together with painted wrought-iron gates featuring moulded tops to the bars.

Historical Context

The manse was built to house the minister of Ford Church as one of three manses within a few miles of each other. The first minister to reside here was Andrew Elliot (1818–1855), a prominent figure in the Secession Church who doubled church attendance at Ford. According to local tradition, Elliot was originally travelling to Annan when his horse became lame, forcing him to stop. He remained in Ford and became its minister, eventually dying at the manse in 1855.

Following the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland's instruction in May 1949 to unite the congregations, Ford and Crichton manses were sold when the three churches unified under Cranston, which was upgraded and retained as the parish manse. Woodlands and the other manse thus became private houses.