Falaburn House, 14 Fala Dam, Fala Dam

Falaburn House is a two-story, circa 1800, T-plan house with an east wing and later single-story additions. It is constructed of harled rubble with painted surrounds. The roof is grey slate, piended, and features randomly placed ventilators and a prominent overflow pipe. Cast-iron rainwater goods are also present.

The north (principal) elevation displays an irregular three-bay arrangement to the left, with black-painted window surrounds. A gable end is situated to the right, and a single-story harled lean-to extension is present, with a window to the first floor on the left side. Plain skewes continue under a harled stack topped with a projecting neck cope and paired replacement cans.

The east elevation has a blind gable with continuing plain skewes beneath a harled stack, projecting neck cope, and four replacement cans. The south elevation exhibits regular fenestration and a single-story, semi-glazed lean-to extension. The west elevation is two stories with two bays, featuring an older two-pane rooflight. A modern conservatory occupies the re-entrant angle. A projecting gable end shows a single bay to the right, with black-painted surrounds, continuing plain skewes under a harled stack, a projecting neck cope, and four replacement cans. A single bay is present to the left return, also with black-painted surrounds.

Windows are predominantly 12-pane sash and case, with an older two-pane rooflight. The interior was not inspected in 2000.

Fala Dam is a good example of a relatively unspoiled hamlet, deriving its name from a dam built on the Cakemuir Burn. Falaburn House was formerly a carter’s inn, and its entrance door has been repositioned by various owners over time. By the 1930s, the house was known as Gavelton and was owned by Mrs. Dobbin, who redesigned the garden. A memorial in French was found, written for a relative who died in Belize, commemorating Robert Waugh, a previous owner.

References relating to the history and surrounding area can be found in J Hunter, Fala and Soutra (1892), Rev. J Dickson Crichtoun, Crichtoun: Past and Present. The Story of a Parish (1911), and Daniel and Jean Blades, Fala and Soutra - Past and Present (1995).