Staneyhill Tower, Obelisk Gate
Gate Pier(S) (17th Century)
Site Name Staneyhill Tower, Obelisk Gate
Classification Gate Pier(S) (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Stoney Hill Gate
Canmore ID 163951
Site Number NT07NE 11.01
NGR NT 09410 78562
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/163951
- Council West Lothian
- Parish Abercorn (West Lothian)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District West Lothian
- Former County West Lothian
Staneyhill, c.1630
Fragmentary relic of the outstanding seat of the Shairps of Staneyhill; octagonal stair-tower with buckle-quoins, strapwork, superb broken pedimented doorway of a highly fashionable villa of the King's purse-keeper, possibly by Sir James Murray of Kilbaberton or William Ayton. The Obelisk Gates may well be Staneyhill's.
The mausoleum, 1829, by William Burn, a heavily shouldered, Gothic, vaulted and stone-roofed monument guarded by crouching and snarling griffins; the adjacent Temple of Peace a delicate wrought-iron dome supported on a ring of Corinthian columns. Butlaw Lodge, a pretty cottage ornée, projecting round entrance with classical porch, round-headed windows and conical (perhaps originally thatched) roof, has a striking Scots extension to the rear, 1972, by Michael Shepley, much influenced by Peter Womersley's doctors' surgery in Kelso (see Borders and Berwick in this series).
Taken from "West Lothian: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Stuart Eydmann, Richard Jaques and Charles McKean, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
