Langlee

Langlee

A substantial Baronial house dating from the later 18th century, substantially altered and extended by David Bryce in 1868, and subdivided in 1981. The building comprises a 2-storey house with basement, extended service ranges arranged in a U-plan, and a squat square 3-stage tower at the east corner.

The main structure is constructed in stugged cream ashlar sandstone with polished dressings. Key architectural features include a moulded string course above the first floor, stop-chamfered arrises, moulded eaves, and crow-stepped gables. The tower at the east corner is topped with a machicolated balustraded parapet and waterspouts.

On the northeast (entrance) front, the tower is positioned to the left with a stepped boarded door featuring wrought-iron hinges in a roll-moulded round-headed surround, beneath a rope-moulded hoodmould with knotted label-stops. Above this is a tripartite window lighting the vestibule, with a framed datestone (1868) positioned above the centre light. The string course steps around this composition. The first floor contains a window framed by colonettes with annulets, cornice, finials and a semi-circular crested pediment, with another window above. To the right are three 2-storey and basement bays set slightly back. At ground level, these three bays are spanned by a massive canted window with 3 lights to the front, topped by a solid coped parapet with angle dies and ball finials. Basement windows light the bay (bipartite to the front) and flanking walls. The first floor windows to each bay feature pedimented dormerheads and finials. A single-storey bay to the right contains a bipartite window and pedimented dormerhead matching those above. The service wing extends beyond in two ranges, each stepping forward one bay.

The southeast (garden) elevation features the tower set slightly back to the right with windows to all floors. A small round stair tower is corbelled out at first floor across the re-entrant angle, providing access to a viewing platform and topped by a bell-cast caphouse roof with ball finial and weathervane. The stair tower has narrow windows.

A 2-storey 4-bay range extends to the left. At ground level, two bays to the right are spanned by a tripartite window, while the bay to the left is blank. Single windows to each bay occupy the first floor, with tiny pediments above the eaves and finials between them. An iron fence with wrought-iron cresting is positioned behind the eaves, enclosing a roof garden. The outer bay to the left is advanced with a broad 5-light canted window at ground level, beneath which is an armorial panel set above the string course. The first floor is corbelled to square with a blind panel in the gablehead.

The southwest elevation features an irregular 2-storey 4-bay range. A gabled bay to the right contains a tripartite window at ground and a single window to the first floor with a blind panel above. An advanced bay to the left holds a tripartite window at ground and a window above, with moulded brackets at the angles supporting a pitched roof (originally gabled). The final two bays are considerably altered; at ground level a modern conservatory obscures the original doorway and a bipartite window to the left, while the first floor contains a modern door to a cast-iron balcony with two windows to the left. A secondary single-storey 4-bay service range steps back to the left, with a door to the first bay, the second and third bays set back and gabled, and the fourth bay set back with a flat-panelled door and gable on the return.

The rear (courtyard) elevation is irregular with a crenellated parapet and shows evidence of considerable alteration. It was not inspected in 1993.

Windows throughout are predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case, with plate glass to the garden front and tripartite windows. The roof is laid in grey slates with moulded skewputts and apex stacks topped with ashlar coping. Cast-iron downpipes feature dated rainwaterheads.

Interior arrangement comprises a vestibule with a straight flight of stairs leading to a staircase hall perpendicular to the entrance. The staircase is panelled timber with a scale and platt stair featuring barleytwist balusters and finials. To the right of the staircase hall is the dining room, and to the left the drawing room. Both rooms are decorated with dentilled cornices and plain marble fire surrounds. Many alterations to finishes occurred during restoration and subdivision.

The service wing comprises a single-storey 4-bay domestic range with windows to the first three bays from the left. The final bay contains a segmental-headed carriage pend with 2-leaf boarded doors, and the outer bays are gabled. Beyond this is a 2-storey 8 to 9-bay irregular gable-ended stable range. The first bay from the left has a first floor window breaking the eaves with a gabled dormerhead, and ground level openings include a folding boarded garage door and a blocked segmental-headed carriage arch.