Staneyhill Tower
Staneyhill Tower is a Scheduled Monument located within the South Deer Park on the Hopetoun Estate, up a steep hill to the south of the walled garden. It is thought to be the remains of an L-plan 17th century tower house. It comprises two magnificent vaults at ground level, perpendicular to one another with an exceptionally fine stair tower within the angle of the vaults.
The masonry is rubble throughout with decorative buckle-quoins and strap work. It is likely the rubble stonework was originally harled. The entrance is located within the stair tower where a panel above the door bears the monogram of James Dundas and his wife. The monument is of national importance as the remains of a 17th century L plan tower house incorporating a particularly fine and unusual hexagonal tower.
GMA’s brief was to repair and consolidate the ruin, preventing further deterioration and preserving the monument for future generations. By making the tower and vaults safe, and opening an historic access into the tower, we were able to ensure the building is maintainable in the future.
All repair works were completed using traditional materials, craft skills and construction techniques of the existing building. Any essential structural steel ties were minimised and hidden, to provide future stability but not detract from the tower’s historical significance. Extensive stone repairs took place including rebuilding of unstable walls and replacement of bedding and pointing mortars with appropriate lime mortar.
A full photographic record and accurate measured drawings of the monument were produced during the works. It was a delight to work on such a distinctive and historically meaningful building.
Project
Staneyhill Tower
Hopetoun Estate, Queensferry, Scotland
Client
Hopetoun Estates
Status
Completed 2024
Collaborators
Narro Associates (Structural Engineer)
Kinlay Laidlaw Associates (Specialist Stonework Architect)
Ralph Ogg & Partners (Quantity Surveyor)
G Brown Stonemason (Main Contractor)
Photos © Keith Hunter
