Garden Bridge, Houndwood House

Garden Bridge, Houndwood House

An original peel tower, possibly dating from the later 16th century, which has been substantially refronted and altered in 19th and 20th century Scottish 17th century style. The building is an asymmetrical two-storey structure with basement, originally rectangular in plan, with a later rectangular block adjoined to the north-east corner. A full-height M-gabled projection to the front is dated 1848, with a lower gabled addition in the re-entrant angle to the left. A single-storey porch is set at an angle to the right. The exterior is harled with sandstone ashlar dressings, some droved.

The entrance elevation to the north features a projecting single-storey porch set at an angle in a re-entrant to the outer right, with steps leading to a boarded timber door centred at ground level. Above the door is a two-pane fanlight with roll-moulded surround. A carved square-plan panel inscribed "I saved the King" is positioned above this, and a weathered triangular tablet dated 1656 is centred in the crowstepped apex. A single window is set in a bay recessed to the left. The full-height M-gabled projection to the left contains a part-glazed timber panelled door at basement level to the right, with a small window offset to the left. Single windows occupy both floors above, with the upper lintel dated 1848. A lower gabled projection adjoins this bay to the left with single windows at the upper floor. To the left sits a single-storey block with basement, arranged in two bays and slightly projecting, featuring single windows at ground level and crowstepped dormerheads to upper windows breaking the eaves line, with a corbelled cill to the left. A single-storey lean-to addition extends to the outer left.

The east side elevation shows a projecting gable end to the outer right with an irregularly fenestrated, full-width, single-storey lean-to addition to the front. The full-height block recessed to the left has a single window at basement offset left of centre, single windows at ground floor, and a single centred window at first floor with a gabled wallhead dormerhead. A modern external stair accesses the front.

The south rear elevation displays a six-bay arrangement at ground level. The principal five-bay range has four irregularly-spaced small basement windows and single windows in all bays at ground level, with gabled dormerheads to single windows breaking the eaves above. A crowstepped gable end to the right contains a single window at ground level offset left of centre. A lower block recessed to the outer right accommodates a modern external stair accessing a part-glazed timber door at ground level, with a single-storey lean-to addition to the right.

The west side elevation features a projecting gable end to the right with a timber door at basement. A gabled porch set at an angle is recessed to the left, with an M-gabled projection positioned behind. A projecting gable end recessed to the outer left has a lower addition in the re-entrant angle to the front, with gabled dormerheads to upper windows breaking the eaves.

The fenestration comprises plate glass in 8-pane and 12-pane glazing set in timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roofs feature sandstone ridging, crowstepped skews, and scroll-bracketed skewputts. Various coped and corniced ridge and apex stacks are present, along with circular and octagonal cans.

Internally, the vestibule floor is stone-flagged. The original block contains a full-length vaulted basement running east-west with further vaulted chambers to the south. A full-height turnpike stair occupies the north-east corner, with the former stair to the north-west removed. Ground floor reception rooms feature decorative plaster cornices, timber panelled doors, some timber dado panelling, and fireplaces.

Two small mid 19th century garden bridges stand to the north and west of the house. These have low coped arcaded ashlar parapets with rubble arches.