Biggar Park

Country house with complex building sequence. Front range said to have been built in 1798 for John, Lord Elphinstone, who acquired the property in the previous year (it was certainly represented as being in existence by 1813) (see REFERENCES).

FRONT RANGE: is late Georgian-style, symmetrical 2-storey south front with shallow-advanced centre - 19th century square porch at ground, 3 light window above with blocking course over main cornice raised and panelled (perhaps an inscription was intended); scrolled pedestal over, with ball finial; outer ground floor windows in shallow arched panels; narrow flanks are shallow-bowed. Rubble built, contrasting ashlar dressings, piended slate roof with stacks over rear wall. Glazing altered in Victorian period, now mostly with tall lower and small upper sashes; centre vertical glazing bar retained in flank windows. High quality interior decoration, particularly in 2 public rooms and shallow-domed hallway on ground floor (principally ceiling/cornice plasterwork; chimneypieces; timber panelling.

Extensive RANGES TO REAR are all harled, making visual interpretaion dif ficult, but comparatively early fabric is incorporated, plus some handsome interior detailing suggesting a range of dates in the 18th century. Building is said to have benn carried out by James Bertram who inherited the property in May 1794 - possibly the former south range which is similar in height and scale to the present main front. Slightly lower parallel ranges linking with north range may have sometime defined an open court (as indicated in 1813 map) in partially top-lit area now containing staircase; rooms in north range contain elements (eg door panelling; plasterwork) suggesting a date closer to mid 18th century. North elevation of house is evidently much altered; pair symmetrically placed wallhead stacks are an unusual feature. Glazing mostly sash windows; slate roofs. Pair low parallel blocks forming service court are shown on 1813 map (though not in present form).