Quothquhan Lodge

Building Notes

Quothquhan was designed by Basil Spence as a private job while he was working in the Edinburgh practice of Rowand Anderson and Paul and Partners. He was commissioned in February 1937, drawings were submitted to the local authority in April 1937 and the house was completed in October 1938.

Quothquhan was designed for Alexander Erskine-Hill, Conservative MP for North Edinburgh. The brief was that it was to be a close approximation of Culter House, an early 18th century laird's house that he had once rented nearby. Quothquhan is the smallest of three country houses that Spence designed in the 1930s, the others being Gribloch in Stirlingshire and Broughton Place in the Borders.

Archive Details

The Sir Basil Spence Archive holds ten photographs and three drawings for this project. The latter depict plans for an earlier scheme than that which was carried out, although any changes are minimal. For plans and elevations of the amended design, the Spence, Glover and Ferguson Collection, also held by RCAHMS, has nine drawings by Spence.

This text was written as one of the outputs of the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, 2005-08.

RCAHMS REFERENCE

NS94SE 72.01 99589 41571 Quothquhan Lodge, Gate Lodge & Gatepiers

NMRS SURVEY OF PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Quothquhan Lodge was designed by Basil Spence of Rowand Anderson & Paul & Partners in 1937 for Mr A G Erskine-Hilll MP. The commission resulted from Spence's involvement at Gribloch House, Kippen (the drawings of which are in the NMRS PRINTROOM) designed for Mr John Colville a relation through marriage of Mr Erkine-Hill.

The house forms part of an important trio of work that Spence executed immediately prior to the outbreak of war namely; Gribloch in an International Moderne style, Broughton Place, Biggar in the style of a 16th century towerhouse and Quothquhan, in the style of a 17th century Lairds House. This group shows Spence's knowledge of traditional Scottish architectural forms and willingness to experiment with modern materials and designs. Quothquhan was originally designed as a shooting lodge but on completion it was used as a hospital and then as a convalescent home for Polish officers to help the war effort.

Due to the death of Sir A G Erskine-Hill in 1947 his heir Sir Robert and his wife Lady Christine were the first to live in the house which they used as their principal residence. In 1990 Lady Erskine-Hill sold the house to Mr Tony Jacklin.

File of correspondence covering the period 27 February 1937-13 October 1938 (The approximate construction period of the lodge). The letters are principally between the clients and their architects covering both the design and fittings of their house. Copied from original file of correspondence in the possession of Lady Erskine-Hill, Quothquhan Lodge, Biggar.

RCAHMS STG