Courtyard East Range, Haystoun House, Peebles

Courtyard East Range, Haystoun House, Peebles

This substantial house began as a late 16th or early 17th-century L-plan towerhouse to the southwest, with additions made in 1660, further enlargement during the 18th century, and a final remodelling by the architects Orphoot, Whiting & Bryce in 1925. The building comprises a 2-storey and attic towerhouse to the southwest, with two ranges of 2 to 3 storeys and attic to the east, all adjoined by single and 2-storey ranges that enclose an open courtyard. The construction is of piecemeal whinstone rendered with cream-wash harling, with sandstone dressings and margins. Earlier windows retain chamfered arrises.

The principal (north) elevation is irregularly fenestrated with 2 storeys and an attic. The ground floor contains five bays with a remodelled stone entrance door (circa 1920) set in the fourth bay and incorporating a Hay family armorial plaque above; flanking stones feature a wrought-iron dog to the right and cat to the left. Three windows stand to the left and one to the right. The first floor has three irregularly placed bays with a small square window to the upper right of the entrance door and a tourelle in the upper left re-entrant angle. To the right, a projecting gabled bay with a square attic window adjoins the western range at lower levels. To the left, a return forming a re-entrant angle features the former main entrance door from the original L-plan towerhouse, which has a moulded architraved surround and an incised date of 1730, with a Hay family armorial panel inserted above (post-1660); a single first-floor window stands above.

The rear (south) elevation presents a more complex arrangement. To the left stands a 2-storey, 3-bay range with an extra window to the left of the third bay at both first-floor and attic levels. The centre comprises a 3-storey, 2-bay stepped range with an arched door at ground-floor level to the left. To the right extends a multi-bayed, 2-storey elevation with a timber and stone conservatory at ground floor infilling a former terrace below a projecting balustraded loggia at first-floor level; an attic dormer sits above to the left.

The eastern range of the courtyard has a western elevation comprising an irregularly fenestrated multi-bayed range rising from a single storey at the left to a 2-storeyed central gable. An irregularly fenestrated 1½-storey range to the right features a stone-surrounded entrance door and a stone wallhead dormer breaking the eaves. The range adjoins the main house to the right and has a gabled end with two stepped doors to the left return; a lower single-bay addition with a window stands to the right. The eastern elevation of this range comprises an advanced canted bay outshoot with regular fenestration. To its right return stands a tall narrow stack with irregularly placed windows to both storeys. The centre of the elevation consists of a 2-storey, 6-bay section with a gable rising above the central bays; a single storey with one window stands to the right.

The western range has an eastern elevation comprising a recessed single-storey, irregular 6-bay section adjoining the main house to the left and rising to a 2-storey sixth bay. A corbelled 8-hole dovecote stands in the re-entrant angle. A timber entrance door occupies the fourth bay with a small projecting ledge window above to the upper right; three bays stand to the left and one to the right. The sixth bay features a gabled end with a door at 1½-storey height accessed by a flight of random rubble and stone stairs with a wrought-iron handrail; the gablehead stack rises at the apex. The right return has a small off-centre window to the right with a wrought-iron grille and a central window to the gablehead. The western elevation of this range comprises a 1½-storey gable to the left with sliding timber doors to the ground and paired windows to the ½-storey. A single storey occupies the centre, partially concealed by a flat-roofed store with a high stepped chimney flanked by windows to the right. The irregularly fenestrated 2-storey and attic main house adjoins to the far right, with a gable rising to the extreme right.

Windows throughout employ 9 and 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case frames, with some 2 and 4-pane glazing to lesser courtyard windows and single fixed-pane glazing elsewhere. The roof is of pitched grey slate with metal and stone ridging; small louvred roof ventilators survive on the courtyard wings. Painted cast-iron rainwater goods feature decorative hoppers.

The interior contains thick stone walls with early door surrounds. A fireplace from the former kitchen, now relocated to the main hall, survives within. Considerable fine wrought-iron work remains, including stair rails, a garden gate and window grills. An integral corbelled 8-hole dovecote is set within the re-entrant angle of the western range.

A walled garden adjoins the eastern elevation of the east wing and encloses a square-plan former formal garden. A doorway to the northeast corner bears a lintel incised with the date 1729.