Walled Garden, Rossdhu House

Probably John Baxter, 1774, with contributions from Sir John Clerk of Penicuik; additions in early 19th century, alterations William Leiper and W Hunter McNab, 1910; modern additions. 3-storey, 6-bay Classical house with lower 2-storey, 4-bay pavilion wings. Pink and honey coloured sandstone ashlar. String courses; architraved windows at principal floor; corniced eaves; balustraded parapet. Pedimented portico with paired giant order Tuscan columns.

E (MAIN) ELEVATION: 2-storey, 6-bay symmetrical block with early 19th century pedimented portico at centre. Paired columns on high ashlar base, round-headed arches on return; swept stair to door at principal floor level. Tripartite entrance with Gibbsian surround, 2-leaf panelled with large fanlight, flanking windows; Vitruvian scroll band course; 2 windows symmetrically disposed at upper stage. Channelled ground floor, windows symmetrically disposed at each floor. Flanking early 19th century near-symmetrical wings, pilaster dividing bays at centre, bays nearest to house with balustraded parapet, outer bays with ashlar parapet. S pavilion with bipartite, architraved entrance at ground floor of inner bay, panelled door with blind fanlight, window to right.

W (REAR) ELEVATION: 6-bay harled block with ashlar margins and dressings. 2-bay pedimented block slightly advanced at centre, 2 windows, 1 enlarged to door at ground, windows symmetrically disposed above, ashlar transom at principal floor. 2 bay flanking blocks, windows symmetrically disposed. Modern 4-bay wing to right, added onto existing E pavilion in sympathetic style; similar arrangement on N pavilion.

S ELEVATION WITH GARDEN: original block to outer right, tripartite arrangement at ground, narrow door with flanking windows; large tripartite window above with moulded architrave. Modern piend-roofed block to outer left in sympathetic style.

N ELEVATION: tripartite window at ground, 2 openings blind. Large tripartite window at upper stage, moulded architrave. Modern block in sympathetic style to outer right.

12-pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slate piend and platform roof; broad corniced ridge stacks, decorative square cans with crenellated caps.

INTERIOR: wainscotting, panelled doors in main hall; simple cast-iron stair, probably circa 1910, William Leiper, W Hunter McNab. Chinese room to right (1950s wallpaper), now with temporary internal subdivision. Drawing room to N, domed ceiling with decorative plasterwork, cornice detail; panelled. Delicate plasterwork and column screen in S room of pavilion.

WALLED GARDEN: earlier 20th century small walled rose garden built immediately to S of house. Rubble wall with ashlar slab coping. Wall raised to arched entrance on E side, crowstepped in NE corner with raggle of former gable, armorial plaque. Curved exedra in W wall, footings of curved seats extant.