Swinhopeburn Bastle, Westgate

Description

The Cottage and adjoining farm buildings GV II House, with former house adjoining to left and further left barn with byre; also right extension. Circa 1600 old defensible house, main house C17 remodelled in early C19, remainder early C19. Sandstone and limestone rubble with ashlar dressings; stone-flagged roofs. Linear plan. Main house 2 storeys, 2 bays and added wider right bay. Ledged boarded and battened door in chamfered surround in second bay. Stone inscribed W B M S Anno Domini 1620 set above. Ledged boarded door in plain surround in right bay. Late C19 sashes with flat stone lintels and projecting stone sills. Early house to left 3 low storeys, one wide bay, with massive quoins. 2-panel door in wide-chamfered surround with large irregular jambs. Inserted central door under rough lintel and boarded opening at left. Similar lintel to boarded first-floor door; fragments of external steps remain. Central boarded openings on upper floors. 2-storey, 3-bay barn at left has central blocked round arch with voussoirs, of a height more suitable for ponies than horses, flanked by Dutch doors under stone lintels; similar lintels and projecting stone sills to outer partly-glazed windows and to 2 boarded pitching holes above. Roof has 3 square ridge chimneys, that at right on massive external stack. Rear has higher ground level, with one-storey outshut to 3-bay house, part under catslide roof; bank entry to first floor of 3-storey house. Interior: oldest part has one-metre-thick left wall, with low blocked square- headed door; fire in floor above; rear door opposite entrance blocked by raised ground level. Later house has wide-chamfered beams and moulded joists; cast- iron range in second floor. (Listed Building Report)

This unusual square building had its origin has a bastle. It has now been built into a barn. The building is almost square on plan, and is clearly an addition to the older house (which bears an early 17th century datestone; its front wall has been largely rebuilt within the old quoins). It has originally been of two storeys, with substantial alternating quoins; a second floor, with smaller quoins, is a later addition. There is a blocked chamfered doorway in the centre of the 1 metre-thick west wall, and a similar one at the east end of the south wall; the other openings mostly seem later insertions, although there are old wall lockers in the south and west walls (Ryder). (Keys to the Past)