east-lothian-1924/05-165

Transcription

PENCAITLAND.] HISTORICAL MONUMENTS (SCOTLAND) COMMISSION. [PENCAITLAND.

Winton is inhabited and is in an excellent
state of preservation.
On the Seton Earls of Winton see Introd.
pp. xx-i.

1 History of the House of Seytoun (Maitland
Club) p. 74 ; 2 The King's Master Masons ;
3 House of Seytoun p. 75.

xiv. N.E. 22 May 1920.

137. Fountainhall.-A very complete ex-
ample of a small 17th century Scottish

[illustration inserted]
FIG. 127.-Fountainhall from the South-West (No. 137).

mansion is to be found in Fountainhall (fig.
127), which occupies a sheltered and retired
position rather more than a mile to the south-
west of Wester Pencaitland. It is still in-
habited and is in an unusual state of pre-
servation, for it retains internally much of
the original 17th century woodwork and rather
later furniture, while externally only such
work as was necessary for conservation has
been carried out since completion. The
building site close to the ground and com-
prises a long central block, with main axis

86

lying north-east and south-west, two storeys
and an attic in height ; at either end a wing
projects southwards, the eastern being the
longer, narrower and lower. The wing on
the west (fig. 128) is three storeys and an attic
in height and with the western 21 feet of the
central block comprises the earliest portion
(figs. 129 and 130) ; it may date from the last
years of the 16th century, while the east wing,
which is dated 1638, is the latest, but, as the
detail throughout is identical and of the type
current between 1625-1650, the building may

[illustration continued]
FIG. 127.-Fountainhall from the South-West (No. 137).

be described as though it were entirely of this
one period. The close resemblance in detail
between Fountainhall and the Hamilton house
at Preston (No. 158) suggests that they came
from the same hands. The greatest dimensions
of the building are 104 1/2 feet along the north
wall by 48 3/4 feet along the east wall.
The building is of light coloured freestone
rubble covered with harling except at the
dressings, which are exposed. The windows
have dressed and backset margins chamfered
at jambs and lintel. The dormer windows have