Gattonside, Abbotsmeadow Melrose, Scotland

Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

John Smith of Darnick, circa 1826. 2-storey and basement, 3-bay rectangular-plan Classical house, with advanced pedimented central bay and piended roof. Small-sized dark whinstone rubble with cream sandstone ashlar dressings; red sandstone dressings to rear elevation. Base course on front and side elevations; eaves course. Tabbed window margins. Regular fenestration to front; irregular fenestration to rear. FURTHER DESCRIPTION: single-leaf, 6-panelled timber front door, with astragalled sidelights and fanlight; tripartite window at first floor level. Pediment ornamented with segemental recess. Round-arched staircase window to rear. Small circular structure beyond NW rear corner of house, built into retaining wall, probably a coal cellar. Predominantly 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. Margined stacks with yellow clay cans. Welsh slate roof. Cast-iron rain water goods. INTERIOR: largely intact early 19th century interior. Enclosed stone-flagged porch with access to public rooms. Curving stone stair at rear with iron balusters and narrow mahogany handrail running from basement to upper floor; stair window flanked by niches. Segmental- headed arches supported on decorative brackets in upper hall. Dining room with panelled dado and vestiges of buffet niche in cornice. Original plasterwork throughout, particularly fine in principal rooms. 6-panelled doors. WALLED GARDEN: situated on sloping ground to W of house, rubble walls with rounded cope. Entrance gate at SE corner.