Crawfordton House
Encyclopedia
Crawfordton House is a category B listed 19th-century country house, situated close to Moniaive
in Dumfriesshire
, Scotland
. It was operated as Crawfordton School in the second half of the 20th century.
in the 17th century and then the Hays
. The site of Old Crawfordton is located around 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) south-east of the house.
Between 1863 and 1866 the present house was built for the Conservative politician Sir George Gustavus Walker
(1831–1897), and designed by the Edinburgh-based architects Peddie & Kinnear
. Built in local red sandstone, Crawfordton House is an example of Scottish Baronial architecture, with crowstepped gables, towers, turrets and carvings. There is a four-storey square tower over the entrance bay.
In 1940 the house was purchased for use as a school, and in 1941, pupils were evacuated from Belmont House School
in East Renfrewshire
to Crawfordton House, which had been converted into a preparatory school
for this purpose. Extensions were built during the 1970s and 1980s, though these are excluded from the listed building. In 1995, Crawfordton House School closed down. The house was then run as Cademuir International School
, which relocated from the Scottish Borders, but which ceased trading in 2006 due to financial difficulties.
Crawfordton House has been unoccupied since the cclosure of the school. In 2007 the house was put on the market for
£1.3 million. As of October 2011, the house is being marketed with an asking price of £595,000.
Moniaive
Moniaive is a village in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway, near Thornhill, on the A702 road and B729 road. Population 520 . The name is from Gaelic monadh-abh and means "Hill of Streams". It is situated at the northern end of the very scenic and tranquil Cairn Valley...
in Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It was operated as Crawfordton School in the second half of the 20th century.
History
Crawfordton Tower was a tower house once held by the CrichtonsClan Crichton
Clan Crichton is a Lowland Scottish clan.-Clan history:The lands of Kreitton formed one of the earliest baronies around Edinburgh and are mentioned in charters of the early 12th century.-Early Crichtons:...
in the 17th century and then the Hays
Clan Hay
Clan Hay is a Scottish clan that has played an important part in the history and politics of Scotland. Members of the clan are to be found in most parts of Scotland and in many other parts of the world. However, the North East of Scotland, i.e...
. The site of Old Crawfordton is located around 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) south-east of the house.
Between 1863 and 1866 the present house was built for the Conservative politician Sir George Gustavus Walker
George Gustavus Walker
Sir George Gustavus Walker KCB JP DL was a Conservative Member of Parliament .The son of John Walker, of Crawfordton, and his wife, Jessy, he was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford. He was the Conservative MP for Dumfriesshire, elected at the 1865 general election...
(1831–1897), and designed by the Edinburgh-based architects Peddie & Kinnear
John Dick Peddie
John Dick Peddie was a Scottish architect, businessman and a Liberal Party politician.-Biography:John Dick Peddie and his twin brother William were the second and third sons of James Peddie WS and Margaret Dick...
. Built in local red sandstone, Crawfordton House is an example of Scottish Baronial architecture, with crowstepped gables, towers, turrets and carvings. There is a four-storey square tower over the entrance bay.
In 1940 the house was purchased for use as a school, and in 1941, pupils were evacuated from Belmont House School
Belmont House School
Belmont House School is an independent co-educational school in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire, Scotland, providing primary and secondary education...
in East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. Until 1975 it formed part of the county of Renfrewshire for local government purposes along with the modern council areas of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde...
to Crawfordton House, which had been converted into a preparatory school
Preparatory school
Preparatory school or prep school may refer to:*University-preparatory school, a school in North America that is a private secondary school, typically charging high fees, designed to prepare students aged 14–18 for higher education at a university or college*Preparatory school , an independent...
for this purpose. Extensions were built during the 1970s and 1980s, though these are excluded from the listed building. In 1995, Crawfordton House School closed down. The house was then run as Cademuir International School
Cademuir International School
Cademuir International School was a specialist school located in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.The school, founded by Robert Mulvey in 1990, was created to serve high ability learners and underachievers with high potential....
, which relocated from the Scottish Borders, but which ceased trading in 2006 due to financial difficulties.
Crawfordton House has been unoccupied since the cclosure of the school. In 2007 the house was put on the market for
£1.3 million. As of October 2011, the house is being marketed with an asking price of £595,000.
External links
- Crawfordton School website
- Crawfordton House, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, including architect's drawings