Torquhan House

1. 2-storey, 9-bay country house with Classical details comprising 5-bay principal block with advanced pedimented section to centre and single-storey wings with Venetian windows to slightly advanced outer bays. Coursed, squared whinstone with pale sandstone dressings to principal (W) elevation; whinstone rubble elsewhere. Band course and blocking course. Long and short quoins, rusticated to outer corners of principal block. Regular fenestration with ashlar margins and projecting cills. Steps to timber-panelled front door with sidelights and fanlight within engaged Doric portico. 2-window bow to right.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: wings extend back to E forming courtyard to rear, enclosed by coped rubble wall. Single-storey piended outshot to centre of rear elevation; round-arched stair window above; canted bay to left and pair of segmental-arched dormers to attic. Lean-to timber conservatory adjoins S wing.

12-pane glazing to timber sash and case windows. Blind boxes to some windows. Broad, coped wallhead stacks with clay cans. Grey slate. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: panelled entrance hall with pilastered corner angles and parquet flooring; pair of fluted supporting columns on plinth and open stair with turned balusters and serpentine handrail; decorative fire surround with fluted columns, garlanded entablature and beveled mirror. Former dining room in S wing with basket-arched inglenook with elaborate pedimented overmantle flanked by arcarded alcoves. Fine marble and plasterwork Classical-revival fireplaces elsewhere. Timber-panelled doors and moulded cornicing.

OUTBUILDING, WALLED GARDEN AND STABLE BLOCK, GATE LODGE AND GATEPIERS: to N of house: 3-bay, gabled, rubble outbuilding with lean-to forming secondary courtyard; small square windows to upper floor.

Large rectangular walled garden situated on sloping ground to NE of house with potting shed to N corner.

Long stepped-roofed stable and coach house adjoins E corner of walled garden; whinstone rubble with ashlar dressings and timber bargeboarding.

Principal entrance drives running North and South. Diminuitive gate lodge to N drive beside Galashiels Road (A7). Square-capped gatepiers and cast-iron gates.