Paxton Dower House, Paxton House

William J Gray, Coldingham, 1871, with later additions and alterations. Asymmetrical, single storey with attic, gabled, Swiss Cottage with lower (former service?) wing at rear; rectangular-plan former stable adjoined beyond. Cyclopean pink sandstone; applied decorative half-timbering at upper floor; cream sandstone dressings. Base course to principal block; decorative string course between floors with zig-zag frieze and alternate circular and near-quatrefoil stencils between timber modillions; overhanging timber bracketed eaves (modillioned eaves to former stable); timber bargeboards with trefoil filigree/carving in decorative cusped frieze. Timber brackets supporting upper floors overhanging chamfered corners. Rusticated quoins with stylised vermiculation; lightly stugged long and short surrounds to openings; projecting cills.

SE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 3-bay gabled projection at centre with bipartite window centred at ground; single windows flanking at ground in chamfered angles; timber bracketed oriel window centred above; collar and string course embossed 'REMEMBER TRUE TO THE END'. Gabled porch to right under piend-roofed corner with decorative timber supports flanking round-arched opening with trefoil and quatrefoil carvings, zig-zag frieze; timber panelled door centred within; plate glass fanlight. Projecting jerkin-headed wing recessed to outer left (see below) with single window in chamfered angle at ground.

SW (SIDE) ELEVATION: principal block to right comprising 3-bay jerkin-headed projection to left with bipartite window centred at ground; single windows flanking at ground in chamfered angles; timber bracketed oriel window centred above. Gabled wing recessed to right with single window centred at ground; single window in chamfered angle to right. 3-bay former service wing (?) recessed to left with timber panelled door at ground to left; single windows at ground to right; gabled dormerheads to windows breaking eaves in bays flanking centre. Jerkin-headed former stable to outer left with 2-leaf boarded timber door centred at ground; boarded attic opening aligned above; boarded timber door in linking corridor recessed to right.

NE (SIDE) ELEVATION: principal block to left comprising narrow window at ground to left; 2-bay jerkin-headed projection to right with; bipartite window at ground, timber bracketed oriel window centred above. Lower, 4-bay former service wing (?) to right with single windows in all bays at ground (narrow opening to right); gabled dormerheads to windows breaking eaves flanking centre. Single storey wing to outer right with single window off-set to left of centre.

Predominantly 3-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows; projecting windows with 3-pane casement glazing. Red tile roof with fishscale banding; decorative brattishing. Sandstone stacks with paired and triple flues; decorative cornices with dogtooth ornament; circular cans.

INTERIOR: not seen 1999.