Field Visit
Date 15 September 2009
Event ID 959609
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/959609
The gateway on the south entrance to hatton House estate survives largely intact. The ashlar tripartite gateway has a tall round-headed vehicular arch in the centre between fluted Doric pilasters on panelled pedestals. The keystone is inscribed ANNO DOM 1629, with the stones either side inscribed 1829; the later date records the re-erection of the gate here. The gate was built by the 5th Earl and was originally sited some distance to the east at the entrance to the main avenue. It was relocated in 1829, at which time the flanking pedestrian arches may have been added. On the rear of the keystone is a sundial in worn condition. Above the keystone is an inverted arch with unoccupied pedestals to either side. These once held stone urns which were salvaged in the 1960s and relocated to a private garden at Birdsmill, Broxburn (McGowen 2008). Above the keystone is a finial in the shape of a pinecone, a classical symbol of eternal life. The main arch is flanked by smaller pedestrian arches with channelled piers with deep cornices. Above the keystoned arches are decorative scrolled brackets. The central arch has large iron gates, their tops curved below the arch to form a circular opening. The gateway is heavily overgrown and the main gates themselves are in poor condition; the pedestrian gates have been removed. There is some evidence of movement in the arch below the finial and above the east pedestrian arch. The west cornice of the main arch is damaged and there is a sapling growing from its top. The masonry here is probably unstable and, given its proximity to the road, should be prioritised for consolidation when site works commence.
Archaeological Services Durham University, 15 September 2009. OASIS-id: archaeol3-64466
McGowen, P 2008
