Newton Don, Garden Gate

One of the entrances to the walled garden of Newton Don house has an arched head, above which a sculpture of a unicorn has been placed.

The archway and sculpture were both brought to Newton Don by the Balfour family, who acquired the estate in 1847. The unicorn is squatting on its hind legs and has a metalwork tail, although the horn has not survived. It holds an heraldic shield bearing the quartered arms of the Balfours beneath the initials DB and AB, all carved in relief. Beneath the armorial is the inscribed date 1779.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project