Torrance House, East Kilbride

Torrance House, East Kilbride

Torrance House is a Grade A listed building comprising a 17th century tower house with substantial later additions and ancillary structures. The complex includes a five-stage L-plan tower house of 1605, an 18th century wing designed by William Adam in the late 18th century, a stable court by William Adam from 1740, and significant 1879 Scots Baronial additions. A modern garage stands to the northeast.

17th Century Tower House

The original tower house is constructed of rubble sandstone with dressed stone applied to the later wing. The northwest elevation, which faces the principal approach, features a projecting blind gable end to the right with an angled buttress, and a recessed tower to the left. This tower contains single windows at the 3rd, 4th and 5th stages, with three slit windows to the right at the upper floors, and is topped with a crenellated parapet. The upper sections of the northwest elevation display irregular fenestration, an attic window with a gable dormer and thistle finial, and a crowstepped gable end at the right of the return. A single window appears at the upper floor of the left return.

The northeast elevation shows single windows to the first four stages of the tower to the right, with a gable-end to the left. A modern garage extension occupies the ground floor on this side.

The southeast or rear elevation rises to three storeys and attic over three bays. The outer bays contain single windows at the 1st and 3rd floors, while the 2nd floor has three single windows. Two attic windows with gable dormers and thistle finials light the top storey. Coats-of-arms are carved into the gablehead. A two-storey and attic addition from 1879 extends from this elevation to the left.

The principal northwest entrance of the tower house was considerably modified in 1879, when a single storey crenellated entrance porch was inserted into the re-entrant angle. This porch features a central four-centred arch with a shouldered arched doorway and four-centred arched hoodmould above. Behind this porch sits a two-storey, two-bay gable-ended range, adjoining the centre bay of the tower house, with a single window in the left bay and stone mullions, and a single window at the 2nd floor on the right return.

1879 Scots Baronial Additions

The 1879 additions represent a major extension in the Scots Baronial manner. A two-storey and attic, three-bay range was attached behind the tower house, adjoining its end bay. This range incorporates a two-storey tourelle to the right, featuring three slit windows at the upper stage and one at the lower stage, with a lancet window in the attic. The southeast elevation of this range is two storeys and attic over three bays, adjoining the tower house at the right and the stable court at the left. A door occupies the right bay at ground floor, with single windows in the centre and left bays. Three single windows light the 1st floor. Two attic windows with stone mullions and crowstepped gable dormers occupy the outer bays. A stylised floral motif is carved into the gablehead. The range features a gabled left return, machicolations at the attic floor, and three slit windows in the gablehead.

18th Century Wing

The 18th century wing, designed by William Adam in the late 18th century, projects to the northeast as a two-storey, four-bay range. It is finished with dressed stone and features a base course, single windows in three bays from the left at ground level, and two attic windows with stone mullions and crowstepped gable dormers above. The hoodmoulds are stepped with carving beneath. Blind slit windows appear in the gableheads, and tourelles with slit windows mark the corners. A parapet of the stair tower is seen to the left, now incorporated into the 1879 addition. The northwest elevation of the wing contains two single windows at ground and a central bipartite window with stone mullions above, with a string course between the floors.

A single storey and attic, three-bay range was added in 1879 to the right of the wing, with a deep base course, a narrow door in the right bay, and single windows with stone mullions in the centre and left bays. This later range is topped with a crenellated parapet featuring a central dormer attic window with crowstepped gable. Two lancet windows with stone mullions light the gablehead. A bartizan marks the left corner, and a gabled left return completes the composition.

The stable court elevation shows four single windows at the ground floor of the 18th century wing, with two attic windows above featuring stone mullions and crowstepped gables. Hoodmoulds are present, and blind slit windows appear in the gablehead, with tourelles rising at the corners. The 1879 range adjoining to the right is centred on a door with a window above, a large arch containing a door and windows to the right, two windows to the left, and a bipartite window to the upper stage of the stair tower. A modern extension occupies the right side.

The roofs throughout are of slate with crowstepped skews to all gables. Modern glazing has been installed. A central stack rises through the wing.

Stable Court

The stable court, designed by William Adam in 1740, forms an L-plan arrangement. The southeast range is attached to the 1879 house and features three round arched openings with keystones in three bays from the left, followed by two flat arched openings (now glazed) to the right. The rear elevation contains a door, pair of windows, window and door, two pairs of windows, and a single window from left to right.

The southwest range displays, from left to right, a single window, an arched door with timber shutters, two single windows, an arched door with shutters, a window with shutters, and another arched door with shutters. A bipartite window with a raised cill marks the right return, and pairs of windows with raised cills light the rear.

The northwest wall is a later addition, featuring a castellated form with the Stuarts of Castlemilk Coat-of-Arms carved on its southeast elevation at the centre.