Interior. Detail of white marble tondo on main staircase. Digital image of C 54064 CN.

Description Interior. Detail of white marble tondo on main staircase. Digital image of C 54064 CN.

Date 5/1995

Catalogue Number SC 772427

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of C 54064 CN

Scope and Content Detail of roundel on main staircase, Newbattle Abbey House, Midlothian This shows a white marble 'tondo' (sculptured roundel) set into a carved oak panel on the first landing of the main staircase. The carved relief roundel depicts small putti (small cherubs, usually depicted with wings) with a goat, an animal associated with the Greek god of wine, Bacchus. This link is further suggested by grape vines below the animal. 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.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/772427

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap