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Darleith House

House (18th Century), Pele House (16th Century)

Site Name Darleith House

Classification House (18th Century), Pele House (16th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Seminary

Canmore ID 42497

Site Number NS38SW 10

NGR NS 34522 80649

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/42497

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Argyll And Bute
  • Parish Bonhill (Argyll And Bute)
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Dumbarton
  • Former County Dunbartonshire

Archaeology Notes

NS38SW 10.00 34522 80649

NS38SW 10.01 NS 34372 80654 Stable, East Range

NS38SW 10.02 NS 34347 80660 Stable, Middle Range

NS38SW 10.03 NS 34318 80664 Stable, West Range

NS38SW 10.04 NS 34364 80652 Stable, Eastern Courtyard, SE Garage

NS38SW 10.05 NS 34355 80653 Stable, Eastern Courtyard, SW Garage

NS38SW 10.06 NS 34341 80620 Walled Garden

(NS 3452 8065) Darleith House (NAT)

OS 6" map (1938)

The central part of the present Darleith House is a typical 16th century peel tower. Extensions were added to the NW and NE in the 17th century, to the south at the end of the 18th century, and the house was remodelled and a wing added on the SE in 1903.

D McRoberts 1947

The only part of the tower visible from the outside is the west wall, where a corbelled turret forms the NW angle. Darleith House is as described by McRoberts, and is now an ecclesiastical college.

Visited by OS (RDL) 22 January 1962

NS 345 806

A standing building survey was undertaken between June and November 2004 prior to the demolition of the 16th- and 17th-century wings of the roofless ruin of Darleith House. The 18th- and 20th-century wings were to be retained for conversion to a private residence. An initial survey, concentrating on the 16th-century tower, was limited because of the dangerous state of the structure. A watching brief then took place intermittently during demolition works to record any features of interest. In the event, the owner retained the 16th-century tower as an attractive ruin.

The survey revealed that the original 16th-century structure comprised a rectangular building with a vaulted basement and at least one bartizan tower. A significant later addition was an extension with a vaulted basement and pend at ground level, forming an L-shaped tower house with an entrance and stairway probably within the re-entrant angle.

A third phase, probably dating to the 17th century, involved the addition of a wing to the N of the house. In the 18th century a wing was added to the S, with a fine Palladian entrance. Two extensions to the N, now the back of the house, flanked the earlier 17th-century addition.

In the early 20th century a final wingg was added onto the E side of the house. The house was used by St Peter's Ecclesiastical College until the 1960s, after which it fell into a ruinous condition.

Report lodged with WoSAS SMR and the NMRS.

Sponsor: Mr Alistair Cant

H James, G Tompsett 2004

Site Management (20 February 1990)

2-storey over basement, 5-bay classical house with additions. Rubble with harl; sandstone margins and dressings; base course; blocking course; ruined, partially roofless.

In 1510 Matthew the 1st Earl of Lennox granted sasine of the Black Third of Darleith to John Darleith. A peel tower was built, subsequently incorporated into the main house. An extension was added in 1616 by John Darleith, a coat of arms of Darleith and his wife Janet Crawford is found on the W gable. In 1670 the house was sold to John Yuillle who enlarged the house. The keystone of the former old E entrance was inserted into the fireplace of the professors dining room in the house when it served as a seminary (IZAF 1676), this was removed and is now in Dumbarton library. On the West gable the arms of John Yuille "Gods Providence is my inheritance" 1678. The house was further extended at the end of the 18th century, the walled garden and steading are of this date. In 1903 the new owner Campbell added a wind to the SE and much of the interior was remodelled at this stage. The house ceased to be a seminary in the 1960s. ( Historic Scotland)

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