Walled Garden, Ayton Castle

19th century with later additions and alterations. Near L-plan walled garden (approximately 15,500m?) set to SW of Ayton Castle, on hillside sloping steeply to S. Open to SE; tall, coped walls enclosing remaining sides to SW, NW and NE. Predominantly harl-pointed sandstone rubble to outer elevations; red-brick inner linings (rendered in part); tooled cream sandstone dressings. 3 tiered terraces (each approximately 80ft wide) set in upper level with balustered sandstone walls to front (obscured by overgrowth); sandstone stairs (each approximately 10ft wide) linking each terrace; squat, panelled and corniced sandstone piers flanking base of each stair. Various boarded timber doors in segmental-arched and square-headed openings accessing garden. Greenhouses (removed 1938) originally adjoined inner elevation NW wall.

POTTING SHEDS: range of single storey, lean-to potting sheds adjoining outer elevation NW wall. Whin and sandstone rubble; stugged red sandstone dressings; boarded timber doors; 4-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roofs. INTERIORS: not seen 1998.

SUMMERHOUSE: 2-stage, octagonal-plan summerhouse set in NE wall with blind elevation to NE; arcaded elevation to SW. Tooled cream sandstone rubble to tall, battered 1st stage; coursed ashlar upper stage; ashlar dressings. Moulded eaves course; corniced eaves; plain parapet. SW (GARDEN/ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 3 segmental-arched openings accessing interior. Tapering octagonal grey slate cap with banded fishscale detailing; surmounting finial. INTERIOR: boarded timber walls; plain timber benches.