Interior. Detail of the boudoir ceiling, first floor.

Description Interior. Detail of the boudoir ceiling, first floor.

Date 5/1995

Catalogue Number C 54080 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 772438

Scope and Content Boudoir ceiling, Newbattle Abbey House, Midlothian This shows the vaulted plasterwork ceiling in the boudoir, which forms part of the family wing added to the Abbey by architect David Bryce (1803-76) in 1858. The pale green-painted plaster surface is covered by a golden trellis filled with gilded stars. A chandelier hangs from a central golden pendant, surrounded by four smaller bosses on the gilded margins above. A boudoir is a special room used by the lady of the house for dressing, sleeping, or entertaining. They were usually lavishly decorated and comfortably furnished with chaise longues, (long couches), small tables displaying trinkets, soft cushions and needlework (often the work of the young ladies of the household). Newbattle Abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in 1140, and its church dedicated to St Mary in 1233-4. It became a private residence in 1587 when the last abbot, Mark Kerr, converted to Protestantism and was able to retain his lands. His son became Lord Newbattle in 1596. The remains of the abbey are built into the surviving house, which was modified and rebuilt by the architects John Mylne (1650), William Burn (1836) and David Bryce (1858). The house was gifted to the nation in 1937 to be used as a further education college. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Medium Colour negative

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