Land at Hatton House, Ratho, City of Edinburgh

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Date 15 September 2009

Event ID 959604

Category Project

Type Project

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/959604

An archaeological desk-based assessment, field recording and geophysical surveys were conducted in advance of a proposed development at Hatton House, Ratho. The assessment included a search of databases, documentary, photographic and cartographic records and a field visit. Existing structures within the study area were recorded and described. The geophysical evaluation comprised geomagnetic and electrical resistance surveys in the area of proposed new-build.

The study area covers an area of approximately 25 hectares and is bounded by fields to the north and east, a lane to the west and the A71 road to the south. The proposed development area comprises a landscaped terrace immediately south of the site of the original Hatton House and the existing bungalow.

The works were commissioned by Holmar Property Developments.

Archaeological Services Durham University. 15 September 2009. OASIS-id: archaeol3-64466

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Related Event(s)

Event	Type	Subtype	Notes	Date
959605	RECORDING	FIELD VISIT	Hatton House has been demolished and levelled. The old building’s foundations survive in part to at least 1.5m below ground and remnants of the outer walls are partially extant on the south and west sides. These exposed walls include the base of the two turrets and the main entrance porch. An arched culvert opens out from the wall immediately east of the west turret. The walls on the south side are overgrown and are in a poor state of repair. The present house is a T-shaped bungalow occupying the west side of the foundation platform of the manor house. The west wall of the bungalow is built over the foundations of the west wall of the manor, incorporating them into storerooms built below. In the west face of a modern wall on the west side of the bungalow is a wall sundial dated 1675. The date includes a monogram made up of the letters CMEL (Charles Maitland and Elisabeth Lauder). Northeast of the bungalow is a modern barn or shed. East of this are two more barns, forming a long range in the old east drive. [...]	15 August 2009
959606	RECORDING	FIELD VISIT	The garden temple or summerhouse is situated 50m west of the bungalow on the site of Hatton House (NT16NW 5.00). It is a rectangular building measuring 5m by 3m and is 3.3m high. Built of sandstone, it has a concrete-covered flat roof. The principal (south) elevation is dressed ashlar, and the side and rear walls are rubblestone. The segmental entrance arch is 2.5m wide and 2.5m high and the keystone is embossed with a Lauderdale monogram, this is an oval cartouche flanked by two large feathers, and surmounted by an earl’s coronet. The device on the cartouche is a pair of tasselled objects arranged in an inverted V, or, conceivably an opposed pair of decorative letter Ls; the exact meaning of this is unknown. Fluted Ionic pilasters frame the opening and a moulded cornice runs along the top of the wall. Inside, the room is vaulted and faced with dressed ashlar. It has 0.6m-square blind windows with fluted architraves set into the east and west walls. A 0.95m high and 0.8m wide blind window is set back into the north wall; this has been fitted with a timber frame and an iron door, but it is empty. A loose block from the façade, now inside the building, is inscribed ANNO DOM MDCCIIII (i.e. 1704); this is said to be the latest carved date at the site. [...]	15 September 2009
959608	RECORDING	FIELD VISIT	The upper terrace is supported on the south side by a 6m-high battered retaining wall. The wall appears to be in sound condition, although the top course of the low parapet is missing. A continuation of the wall extends north from in front of the east elevation of the east pavilion. Parts of this wall have been consolidated. There is a row of three windows in the north end of this part of the wall. Below the terrace, there is a bath-house built into the middle of the retaining wall. It is heavily overgrown and examination of the structure and condition was limited. Most of the structure is set back behind the face of the wall, under the terrace. The curved front of the bath-house extends 2m from the face of the retaining wall. A central door is flanked by a window at either side. The room extends 5m back beyond the wall. Inside there is a rectangular chamber with an apse at either end. In the rear apse is a round ashlar bath, 3m in diameter and 1.2m deep, under a segmental arch. This has a fluted console keystone like those on the pavilions. A rectangular chute in the ceiling above the bath was formerly accessible from the terrace, where it is known as the well. Stone benches line the east and west walls of the chamber, each with a niche above. The walls are finished with a smooth render. No fittings remain, but there is the scar of a tap at the centre of the apse, over the bath. Another arch divides the chamber from the apsidal entrance porch. The bath-house is not present in Slezer’s engraving of 1680. Outside, there is another overgrown doorway leading to a side chamber immediately west of the bath-house. This chamber could not be examined because of its overgrown state. [...]	15 September 2009

Land at Hatton House, Ratho, City of Edinburgh

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