Biel
Country House (18th Century), Tower House (Medieval)
Site Name Biel
Classification Country House (18th Century), Tower House (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Beil House
Canmore ID 57723
Site Number NT67NW 21
NGR NT 63364 75894
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/57723
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Stenton (East Lothian)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT67NW 21.00 63364 75894
NT67NW 21.01 634 758 Garden
NT67NW 21.02 62735 77529 North Lodge
NT67NW 21.03 622 767 Curling House
NT67NW 21.04 63 75 South Lodge
NT67NW 21.05 63012 76761 North Drive
NT67NW 21.06 6339 7589 Estate
NT67NW 21.07 62755 77538 North Gate piers
NT67NW 21.08 62335 75785 Biel Mill Bridge
NT67NW 21.09 62488 75698 Biel Park Cottage
NT67NW 21.10 63256 76007 North Coach House
NT67NW 21.11 63237 75988 South Coach House
NT67NW 21.12 63261 75990 Roselea
NT67NW 21.13 63337 75888 Chapel
NT67NW 21.14 63487 75886 Service Court, Dairy and Tower
NT67NW 21.15 63462 75884 Service Court, Offices
NT67NW 21.16 63441 75883 Service Court, West Offices
NT67NW 21.17 63430 75892 Service Court, Tower
NT67NW 21.18 63424 75908 Archway
NT67NW 21.19 63384 75918 Kennels
NT67NW 21.20 63193 75877 Summerhouse
NT67NW 21.21 63380 75876 Sundial
NT67NW 25 6384 7582 Dovecot
NT67NW 31 6430 7610 East Lodge
NT67NW 33 6364 7580 Bridge
NT67NW 34 6320 7599 Bielhill
NT67NW 35 6183 7559 Bielgrange farmhouse
NT67NW 36 61785 75547 Bielgrange farm
NT67NW 37 62622 75952 Beesknowe
NT67NW 41 6226 7586 West Lodge
NT67NW 42 6368 7581 Gardener's Cottage
NT67NW 43 6245 7578 Mill Lodge
NT67NW 44 624 757 Mill House
NT67NW 45 624 757 Mill
NT67NW 46 624 757 Mill, cottages
Biel (NAT)
OS 6" map (1971)
Biel House: Embedded in the E end of the present block is an early tower house. About 1760 it was extended to the W, as is clear from the outlines of rusticated voussoirs (subsequently chopped off) over some of the windows on the N (entrance) front. By the end of the 18th century the whole house had been battlemented, but in 1814-8 it became a mere appendage to vast monastic Gothic additions to the E by William Atkinson, who brought its harled exterior into conformity, adding hood-moulds over all the windows. At the W end was a large conservatory, rebuilt in 1883 as an episcopal chapel. Its floor is still in situ, and some fittings were retained when in 1952 the chapel and virtually the whole of Atkinson's house were demolished. Piscina, credence, sacrament house and bellcote have been reset in the walls of what is now a terrace. The house is entered through Atkinson's porch, resited in 1952.
C McWilliam 1978.
NT67NW 21.00 63364 75894
NMRS REFERENCE
ARCHITECTS: William Atkinson (additions demolished in 1950s), 1804-12
Wardrop & Reid, 1884-87 - alterations and additions
Duncan & Harkness, 1902-52
Robert Lorimer, 1920 - alterations
Robert Rowand Anderson 1884 (chapel)
Biel Drawings
NMRS Photographic Survey of drawings for Biel House including: designs for additions to Biel by William Atkinson 1806 -1809; designs for Biel Chapel by Wardrop and Anderson 1886; designs for alterations by Robert Lorimer 1920; and many designs for estate buildings.
Copied 1980 Inventory 151
EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
National Monuments Record, Swindon:
One early 19th century photograph in the Inigo Thomas album, purchased by NMR, Swindon in 1997.
National Library of Scotland:
'Country Life', 30/08/1902
Scottish Record Office:
Chapel at Biel. Letter from Robert Rowand Anderson (1834-1921), architect, to Miss Nisbet Hamilton.
He accepts her invitation to come to Biel and see the chapel. He wishes to look at it by daylight and by gas light.
1884 GD205/Box 47/Portfolio 17.
[ ] Belfry
Letters (3) from Robert Rowand Anderson (1834-1921), architect, to Miss Nisbet Hamilton at Biel.
He complains that he has visited Rhind and found that Malcolm and Laing have not sent the stone. He asks Miss Nisbet to put pressure on Rhind. Later letters indicate better progress.
1883 GD205/Box 47/Portfolio 17
