Interior. General view of main staircase from the ground floor.

Description Interior. General view of main staircase from the ground floor.

Date 5/1995

Catalogue Number C 54043 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 772428

Scope and Content Main staircase, Newbattle Abbey House, Midlothian This shows the impressive oak staircase with inlaid marquetry panels on the risers and posts, and an 18th century marble 'tondo' (sculptured roundel) depicting a goat with putti (small cherubs) as a centrepiece on the first landing. The parquet floor is laid to form geometric patterns, and further stairs lead down from this hallway into the vaulted chapel (originally the monk's 'calefactory' or warming room of the monastery in the 13th century). A new porch was added to the entrance façade of Newbattle Abbey House by an unknown architect in c.1886. It seems likely that the hall was also redesigned at this time in the style of David Bryce (1803-76), who had added a two-storeyed family wing in 1858, and a further extension in 1875. 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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