Archaeology Notes
Event ID 656951
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/656951
NX65SE 87 6815 5105
NX 6815 5105 Prior to its extensive refurbishment, an archaeological record was made of Broughton House and garden, Kirkcudbright.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE
The site comprises two separate houses (Nos 10 and 12 High Street), linked internally, but formerly separate buildings. No. 12, the main structure, is built on the site of an earlier building, the wall and barrel-vaulted cellars of which survive beneath the present forecourt on the High Street frontage. The main house features a large added bow in its rear wall, with corresponding grand rooms on the interior, and a large stair was added during the same period.
The house was occupied by Edward Atkinson Hornel, the Scottish Colourist artist (one of the Glasgow Boys) until his death in the 1930s. Hornel made extensive alterations to the house, adding a studio and gallery in the early years of the 20th century. He also made changes to the gardens, in particular by the addition of a small Japanese garden at the rear of No. 12.
The survey aimed to elucidate the relative periodisation of the building. Extensive documentary and architectural sources aided immeasurably the interpretation of the buildings, with original architects? plans surviving from the Hornel period. Using the evidence represented by the buildings themselves, together with documentary evidence, eight periods of development were defined, from the early 18th century to post-1911.
A full report and archive will be lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland
A Dunn 1998.
NX 6815 5105 An archaeological watching brief was completed in July 2002 during removal of floorboards on various sites throughout the building as part of a site inspection by engineers. Evidence of a coombed ceiling feature was revealed which was not reflected in the room below - indicating the presence of residual features behind the present ceiling.
Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.
Sponsor: NTS.
G Ewart 2002
NX 681 510 Results of preliminary survey and documentary work (DES 2002, 30) have now been complemented by further evidence of the quality and complexity of Broughton House, retrieved during the current extensive conservation programme.
Details of its original 18th-century layout and numerous conversions after the early 19th century have been recorded both inside and out - from details of wall construction and major building phases to evidence of decorative schemes and fittings, including some fine Georgian fireplaces. In addition, service trenches within the building and in Hornel's celebrated Japanese Garden have given some insight into the late medieval origins of the property and its backlot. A programme of recording and monitoring of all downtaking and intrusive works is ongoing.
Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.
Sponsor: NTS.
G Ewart 2003
A survey and watching brief were undertaken between October 2003 and September 2004 during the completion of the main building contract on the multi-phase house and garden, celebrated as the residence and studio of the artist E A Hornel from 1901.
The principal stages of the evolution of the property had already been established (DES 1998, 28), but the new programme revealed some new details of the house interiors in particular. This included traces of decorative surfaces including paintwork and wallpapers. However, the work was mainly a process of archival recording, covering most interior spaces as well as the stables and garden. Certain details were recorded, such as the garden gate piers, flagged floors and a small oven-like feature in a lower ground floor store room.
Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.
Sponsor: NTS.
P Sharman 2004.
NX 68117 51058 During the rebuilding of a pond in the back garden of Broughton House sherds of medieval and postmedieval green-glazed pottery and two sherds of white gritty ware were recovered from the clay fill at the base of the pond.
Archive to be deposited with NTS, SMR and RCAHMS.
Funder: The National Trust for Scotland.
Derek Alexander, 2007.
NX 6815 5105 The Lily Pool in the garden of Broughton House was partially demolished and rebuilt in September 2007
because it was leaking. A survey of the pool took place on 19 July 2007 before the works, and during September the works were monitored. The survey revealed that the pool had two phases of construction and was not the single-phase feature it had previously been assumed to be. The watching brief confirmed the structural cracks that had caused the pool's failure and also revealed the methods used to construct the pool, and the features through which it had been cut, which included an earlier drain that was recycled during the initial construction of the pool.
Archive to be deposited with RCAHMS.
Funder: National Trust for Scotland.
Tom Whalley, 2007.
