Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

SHERIFFHALL DOVECOTLB19674

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
B
Date Added
22/01/1971
Local Authority
Midlothian
Planning Authority
Midlothian
Parish
Newton
NGR
NT 32047 67924
Coordinates
332047, 667924

Description

Early 17th century. 4-stage square dovecot created from stair tower of former mansion. Red sandstone and basalt. String courses and crenellated angles.

NW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: arched doorway to 1st stage behind string course, boarded timber door with metal hinges; in-filled arched window to right across 2nd/3rd stages; blind central window to 4th stage, eaves string course leading to crenellated corners with flat stone copes

NE ELEVATION: 4 blind stages, separated by string courses; random in-fills; eaves string course leading to crenellated corners with flat stone copes.

SE ELEVATION: 4 blind stages, separated by string courses; projecting triangular opening to lower 4th stage now in-filled with brick; eaves string course leading to crenellated corners with flat stone copes.

SW ELEVATION: 4 blind stages, separated by string courses; rectangular arrowslit opening to 3rd stage; eaves string course leading to crenellated corners with flat stone copes

Rubble in-fill to original windows. Pyramidal slated roof, with lantern entrance and ball finial surmounting.

INTERIOR: circular with 850 wooden nesting boxes arranged octagonally.

Statement of Special Interest

Originally this was the stair tower of Sheriffhall House, demolished in the 1830s. It had many famous residents, Thomas Tod the Provost of Edinburgh and David Crichton. Latterly, the house was owned by James Buchan, whose son George was the author of the HISTORY OF SCOTLAND. His study was housed in the upper portion of the mansion, and he used the dovecot stairs to access it. The house's final owners were the Buccleuch family, but the structure became undermined by one of their own coalpits. Like nearby Old Newton Kirk Tower, the converted dovecot was used as an eyecatcher for the pleasure grounds of Dalkeith Palace. The once derelict dovecot has undergone major repairs and it now in good condition. It is part of Sheriffhall Farm, listed separately.

References

Bibliography

John Adair, A MAP OF MIDLOTHIAN (1736) showing Schirefall (Sheriffhall); T Buxbaum, SCOTTISH DOOCOTS (1987) p25 & 32; J Thomas, MIDLOTHIAN (1995) p127.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 03/05/2024 02:04