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

PITTENCRIEFF PARK, PITTENCRIEFF HOUSE, INCLUDING PARAPET WALL TO NORTHLB25968

Status: Designated

Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Category
A
Date Added
12/01/1971
Local Authority
Fife
Planning Authority
Fife
Burgh
Dunfermline
NGR
NT 08748 87215
Coordinates
308748, 687215

Description

Earlier-to-mid-17th century for Sir Alexander Clerk of Pittencrieff; raised a storey 1731; restored and interior remodelled/parapet wall constructed 1908-11 by Sir Robert Lorimer. 3-storey and attic and basement; 8-bay; rectangular-plan large house with central projecting stair tower to principal (S) elevation. Crowstepped gables to either end of main block. Harled with painted stone dressings. Concreted base course; Moulded eaves cornice. Vertical stone margins apart from to E end of main block. Flush stone surrounds.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: entrance tower slightly to right of centre. Entrance with roll-moulded surround to left return; inscribed

'PRAISED.BE.GOD.FOR.AL.HIS.GIFTES.' below moulded cornice; early 20th century 12-panel timber door with decorative copper handle. Stone panel carved with coat of arms of Alexander Clerk above. 2 small windows at higher levels; upper one with carved semicircular pediment. 2 small windows at different levels to front of stair tower; pair of windows to slightly projecting upper storey. Slightly irregular fenestration set back to main block. 3 windows to ground and 2nd floors and 4 to 1st floor to left. 2 windows to ground and 2nd floors and 3 to 1st floor to right. Dated 1731 to skewputt to right.

N ELEVATION: irregular fenestration. Entrance with stone surround and rectangular fanlight with ornamental glazing bars to outer right; 9-panel timber door. 5 ground floor windows to left. 4 windows to 1st floor; 5 to 2nd floor, to either side of central wallhead stack.

W ELEVATION: 2 windows to ground floor; one to right to 1st and 2nd floors; that to 2nd floor has shaped pediment with heraldic emblem. Small blocked attic window to right.

E ELEVATION: entrance with stone surround to left; part-glazed replacement timber door. Window above to 1st and 2nd floors; that to 2nd floor with keystone and carved semicircular pediment. Small blocked attic window to left.

Mainly 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roof; hipped over stair tower. Harled gable end stacks to either side of main block; harled wallhead stack to N elevation; moulded stone coping, except to E gable stack, which has concrete coping.

INTERIOR: large main room to each floor; each with decorative plaster ceiling and panelling (based on 17th century types) designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. Ground floor ceiling appears to have been based on in situ 17th century original; barrel vaulted ceiling with strapwork to upper floor; figures of Industry, Prudence, Justice and Generosity on end walls. Original moulded stone turnpike staircase with early 20th century wrought-iron balustrade incorporating thistle at head.

PARAPET WALL: short section of coped wall along edge of terrace overlooking glen immediately to N of house. Parallel to house except for 2 V-plan projections to N at either end. Stugged sandstone with ashlar dressings; ashlar terminating piers of square plan; chamfered and stepped in in 3 tiers above level of wall; each with band course; top band course adjoins curved cap.

Statement of Special Interest

A significant 17th century large house with earlier 18th century alterations and fine early 20th century interior by Robert Lorimer. Originally built for Sir Alexander Clerk, in 1685 the house was acquired by George Murray. In 1775 it belonged to George Chalmers and by 1800 it had passed to the Hunt family, who sold it to Andrew Carnegie in 1902. The surrounding parkland was opened to the public in 1903. In 1904-05 the house was converted to a reading room and museum. It was remodelled by Robert Lorimer a few years later and is currently run as a museum by the local authority. The park is inscluded in the Countryside Commission for Scotland's Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes. See separate list descriptions for park buildings, including dovecot, Pittencrieff Lodge Gateway, E Gateway, W gateway, Tower Bridge and Bridge to W of Tower Bridge.

References

Bibliography

John Ainslie, THE COUNTY OF FIFE MAP (1775); 'Pittencrieff House, Dunfermline and its Remodelling' by Sir Robert Lorimer, in COUNTRY LIFE, July 6th 1912, pp7-8; AN INVENTORY OF GARDENS AND DESIGNED LANDSCAPES IN SCOTLAND, VOL 4; TAYSIDE, CENTRAL AND FIFE (circa 1985) pp409-14; John Gifford, FIFE, in the 'Buildings of Scotland' series (1988) p192; Bert McEwan, DUNFERMLINE - OUR HERITAGE (1998) pp200-02.

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: 28/03/2024 09:33