Howford House

1839-1840 for Mr Thomas Salton, tenant of Traquair Estate. Robert Lochie and Robert Hall, Galashiels and Robert Ritchie, Reston, masons. 2-storey and basement, 3-bay rectangular-plan classical farmhouse with servants' wing to rear. Giant angle pilasters, slightly projecting central bay with raised block pediment and classical portico. Base and band course with prominent eaves cornice and parapet. Polished ashlar front; harled sides and servants' wing with tabbed ashlar windows.

NE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: slightly projecting central bay with 3 stone steps leading to Tuscan-Doric columned door piece, windows to flanking bays. 3 regularly placed bays to 1st floor, full length corniced parapet surmounting, rising into block pediment above central bay.

NW ELEVATION: giant angle pilasters meeting base and band courses and forming slightly recessed rectangular panels; 2 widely spaced tabbed windows to each floor.

SW (REAR) ELEVATION: not seen, 2002.

SE ELEVATION: main house to right with giant angle pilasters meeting base and band courses and forming slightly recessed rectangular panels; 2 widely spaced tabbed windows to each floor. Symmetrical, 2-storey, 4-bay servants wing to centre and left (adjoining main house to right return): 3 stone steps leading to boarded timber door in bays 1 and 4, window with projecting sill to bays 2 and 3 (smaller window directly adjacent to left of 3rd bay); to 1st floor, 4 regularly placed bays (aligned with ground floor)

12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows; semi-glazed timber panelled entrance door with rectangular leaded diamond quarry fanlight surmounting. 2-pane cast-iron Carron lights to roof of main house. Piended and platformed slate roof with lead ridging and flashing. 10 tall hexagonal ashlar stacks to centre of main roof, divided into 2 blocks of 5, all with projecting neck copes and various decorated cans; smaller plain rectangular ashlar stacks to servants wing, formerly with plain paired cans (some now missing). Painted cast-iron rainwater goods with concealed gutters.

INTERIOR: well proportioned rooms including hall with original stone staircase; drawing room with classical fireplace; many timber panelled doors and skirting boards; cornicing and ceiling roses.

GATEPIERS AND GATES: 3 square ashlar gatepiers with projecting neck copes and pyramidal caps (sited to provide foot and carriage entrances); 3 painted wrought-iron spearheaded gates with plain dogbars.