Architecture Notes
Event ID 834807
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Architecture Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/834807
NMRS REFERENCE
Owner: Captain the Baron R De Fresnes
Architect: John Railton (decorated ceilings - restoration ?)
Thomas Leadbetter - restoration 1890
EXTERNAL REFERENCE
Nat. Lib. Watercolour Sketches by Thos. Brown, Vol. II No. 39 - 1 view
Nat. Lib. Scottish Field January 1933 - Cessnock ceiling copied for Sy Winifreds Church nr Welbeck
Scottish Record Office
Survey and measuring of (Cessnock Castle).
Letter from John Dick to Alexander, Earl of Marchmont.
Mr Runciman and James Williamson have surveyed the whole house and will report to his lordship in order that his directions may be given. They have measured the height and width of the old Hall, Drawing room and chimney and have ordered the writer to lay in lime and provide about 20 trees.
1726 GD 206/591/1
Repair of Cessnock Castle
Letter from John Dick to Alexander, Earl of Marchmont.
He reports that the timber, deals and lime that Mr Runciman considered necessary for the repair of Cessnock have been bought.
1727 GD 206/591/4
Repair of Cessnock Castle
Letter from John Dick to Alexander, Earl of Marchmont.
John Williamson has taken down the gable and found the condition of the wall bad. He refuses to proceed with the side wall further than the window sill. John Dick has written to Mr Hall to arrange for Mr Runciman to come and see it.
1727 GD 206/591/5
Repair of Cessnock Castle
Letter from John Dick to Alexander, Earl of Marchmont.
John Williamson has rebuilt the gable up to the height of the Drawing room and the jambs of the chimney are set. However Mr Runciman has not returned to give directions regarding the timber and plasterwork and the writer considers it is time the work was begun.
1727 GD 206/591/6
Repair of Cessnock Castle
Letter from John Dick to Alexander, Earl of Marchmont.
John Williamson is rebuilding the gable but Peter Muir cannot reline the Drawing room because the floor must be lifted once the gable is finished and the pend in the Kitchen secured. Meantime he is levelling the ceilings to be plastered and putting in timber between the posts of the Old Hall. They await Mr Runciman and his plasterer.
1727 GD 206/591/7
Repair of Cessnock Castle
Letter from John Dick to Alexander, Earl of Marchmont.
John Williamson has put in the lintels on the windows of his lordship's closet. Mr Runciman came and gave Peter Muir directions concerning wright work particularly of the new windows. The three of them working together put up two beams through the garret and rested them on the gables in order to decure the roof.
1727 GD 206/591/8
Repair of Cessnock Castle
Letter from John Dick to Alexander, Earl of Marchmont.
John Williamson has now finished all the stonework of Cessnock and departed for Redbraes Castle. John Dick would have prefered that he has stayed until the marble chimneypieces for the Dining room and the Bed-chambers had arrived. Mr Runciman had paid a visit and his plasterers were busy. The Drawing room was laid.
1727 GD 206/591/9
Cessnock. Reparation of the Tower
The Earl of Marhmont wishes a report on progress. He hopes there is some advance in plastering the rooms.
If difficulties arise John Dick is to consult William Hall.
Letter from the Earl of Marchmont to John Dick, Factor.
1727 GD 158/1317/ Page 170
Layout of the Gradens and Reparation of the House and Tower. Lord Polworth has designed the entry to the Tower to go up to the Burnhouse Hill Park on a line with Lord Loudon's entry and make a circle where they meet. He asks for a report on progress of work at the House and The Old Tower.
Letter from Alexander, Lord Polworth [later E of Marchmont] to George Boiue, Gardener at Cessnock. 15th February.
1723 GD 158/1507/ Page 87-88
Proposed repair of the house at Cessnock.
'I expected to hear what was determined to be done with the House, at least what it would cost to put it to rights. I would not lay much money upon it, and if the Gavelor any part of the Drawing room is to be taken down and built up again, it may be built as it now is that the lining may serve, only there must be two windows in the Library, as in the room below...'
Letter from Ld. Polworth [later E of Marchmont] to John Dick [Factor] Sept. 16th
1723 GD 158/2507/ Page 204
Layout of the Gardens at Cessnock
Lord Polmont asks George Bouie to forward a plan of the garden.
Letter from Lord Polworth [later Earl of Marchmont] to George Bouie,
Gardener at Cessnock. June 17th.
1723 GD 158/2507/ Page 163-4
Memorandum of the Reparations at Cessnock.
The side wall and the gavel of the Drawing room and closet to be rebuilt.
The chimney to be put in the corners in both rooms.
Windows to be placed in both rooms as in the Plan Ld. Polworth sends.
The breasts of all six windows are to be limited to 1 1/2' from the floor.
The Old Tower is to be taken down and the stone used.
An exact Plan of the whole house is to be made.
Letter from Ld. Polworth [later E. of Marchmont] to John Dick [Factor] Dec 6th
1723 GD 158/2507/ Page 246-249
Layout of the Gardens at Cessnock. Instructions sent to George Bouie.
The slopes, banks and bottom on the South side of the House are to be planted up thoick with flowering shri=ubs, except the cascade 'which must continue and be finished off fifty feet broad, the breadth of the entry.'
Letter from Lord Polworth [later Earl of Marchmont] to George Bouie.
Gardener at Cessnock December 9th
1723 GD 158/250T/ Page 251-252
Layout of the Gardens at Cessnock.
' I have got your letter of the 14th January with two sheets of the Plan enclosed and likewise the two sheets of the Plan that were in John Dick's letter... I sent home some time ago 10,000 elms, some figgy trees and some grafts and Hornbeam seeds'.
Letter from the earl of Marchmont to George Bouie. Gardener. February 15th
1725 GD 158/2515/ Page 197-198
I have got your letters of the 19th and 28th December with the sheets of the Plan etc enclosed in them ..... I have sent over of late years, several trees as Alders, Elm and Figs and likewise grafts and seeds; let me know what of them are come to Cessnock. where they are planted and sown and how they thrive'.
Letter from the Earl of marchmont to George Bouie. Gardener. February 1st
1725 GD 158/2515/ Page 193
Reparation of the Tower
'I would have no time lost in setting about the reparations I have appointed to be made at the Tower'.
Letter from the Earl of Marchmont to John Dick. Factor.
1727 GD 158/1317/ Page 161
The making of a clock [? for the Tower of Cessnock.]
' I have sent for Shannon the clockmaker and his master ...
I have spoke with them and they can make the clock to go for a week ...
The clock to answer the little bell will not need to be above a foot square
but they will not make it under #10 and it will not be ready in 7 or 8 months'.
Letter from Alexander to his father, Patrick, Earl of Marchmont.
1707 GD 158/1161/1
