September 4, 2010

I’ll Take This… Georgian in Scotland

There’s a part of Scotland, along the southwest coast, that benefits from the warm waters from the Gulf Stream, and plants like palms and bougainvillea grow there year ‘round. This stunning Georgian manse is in that part of Scotland, so you’d have a fabulous place to live with pretty decent weather.Arbigland 1Here’s the description:

Arbigland House has a classical Georgian entrance façade with a central pediment above Ionic pillars, stone urns on the roof and decorative stone detail. There are matching single storey octagonal pavilions on either side. A porch was subsequently added to the entrance façade to protect the front door from the prevailing south westerly wind. Arbigland 7Internally, the accommodation is arranged on three floors with a basement below. The house has beautifully proportioned rooms, particularly on the ground floor. Many original features such as fireplaces, decorative cornice work and window shutters remain. Arbigland 3Just to the west of the house is an enclosed traditional courtyard built of stone under a slate roof. The courtyard dates from about 1680 and therefore pre-dates the main house. The courtyard is rectangular and cobbled. It has central archways with a dovecot above the eastern entrance archway. Arbigland 4To the front of the house is a large gravel sweep surrounded by banks of rhododendrons. There is a wrought iron fence and steps leading down to the coastal gardens. Arbigland 7 To the rear of the house is a new formal garden. It has a central rill with a fountain at the end and formal beds with box hedging. Arbigland 2 A gate opens into a paddock with views to the Solway Firth beyond.There is a drying green and a lawn behind the courtyard.

Arbigland 5The coastal gardens originate from about 1680, when the family built a carriage drive from the stable block to their house above the shore. This avenue is now known as the “Broad Walk”. There are magnificent trees and a mass of rhododendrons to either side.  The gardens were laid out in their present state by the chatelaine in the 1920’s.Arbigland 6There are a lot of places in Scotland that would be pretty desolate during the winter (here), but this one might be okay!

9 comments:

  1. I'm not a big fan of English style but I love anything Georgian. It's the best of English style. Live this place I could live here!

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  2. Yes, this is certainly less bleak than some that you have been favouring, and the Georgian symmetry makes it the more enchanting, although I'm not a huge fan of the red stone.

    The interiors seem to have been decorated with a great deal of style and taste, which will help the selling.

    To andrew1860...although Georgian, this Scottish, not English!

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  3. Beautiful house and gardens. I did not realize that there were parts of Scotland that were so temperate. Thanks, Mary

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  4. First of all, putting ANYTHING in Scotland makes it 500% better.

    And this?

    Heavenly!

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  5. The weather is absolutely glorious here in Atlanta today, but it was still nice to be transported to this corner of Scotland through your post! Not wild about the house, but I appreciated seeing it nonetheless. Gorgeous grounds.

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  6. i wish i could live there...sigh it is so far away

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  7. The house is just SO very Scottish. I love it!!!

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