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Culross, Sandhaven, Tron House
House (18th Century)
Site Name Culross, Sandhaven, Tron House
Classification House (18th Century)
Canmore ID 105132
Site Number NS98NE 111
NGR NS 98564 85933
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/105132
- Council Fife
- Parish Culross
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Dunfermline
- Former County Fife
Two properties, now converted to single dwelling
Photographic Survey (1938)
Photographs of buildings in Culross, Fife by the Ministry of Works c1938.
Standing Building Recording (January 2009 - April 2009)
NS 9856 8593 A survey of this B-listed building was undertaken January–April 2009 during a programme of
interior development. The work aimed to obtain a better understanding of the development of the Tron House and to ensure that its cultural significance was not compromised by the upgrading works.
An analytical and historical assessment of the building was undertaken, through the desk-based analysis of cartographic and documentary evidence and on-site recording. The site based work included the production of survey drawings (including plans and other selected details), augmented by a general photographic record. We also monitored the installation of electrical services and re-plastering. As the building fabric was not extensively exposed during these works, only a preliminary assessment of the evolution of the
building could be made.
The Tron House consists of two two-storied pan-tiled ranges set at right-angles and forming a T-plan. The
assessment suggests that the house was originally two separate dwellings, possibly constructed at slightly different times. The southernmost range was perhaps the first to be constructed and seems likely to have been built in the early 17th century, prior to the erection of the adjacent town house in c1625–6. This construction date is in part suggested by the existence of an apparent window at the top of the stairs, which appears to have been blocked by the construction of the town house. This range also retains an early first floor
structure and roof.
The northern range has a well preserved large segmental arched kitchen fireplace in its eastern gable wall, and a secondary opening on its S side may have been a bake-oven. This range also retains its early first floor structure, but its upper parts have been substantially remodelled (new roof structure, rebuilding of the W gable, etc). Removal of failing wall plaster onto lathe against the W gable wall at first floor level revealed evidence for original wall plaster onto- the-hard that preserved in silhouette the line of the original lower ceiling.
The two dwellings were then subdivided, and following several phases of alteration and extension, the two ranges were joined in the mid-19th century and the internal layout altered. Before their acquisition by the NTS in 1959 the buildings had again been subdivided to form four but-and-ben dwellings. After renovation by the NTS the Tron House formed two dwellings, which were subsequently converted into a single house (as at present).
Archive: NTS (intended)
Funder: The National Trust for Scotland
Amanda Gow, Tom Addyman and Kenneth Macfadyen – Addyman Archaeology
