Dalzell House

http://portal.historic-scotland.gov.uk/hes/web/f?p=PORTAL:DESIGNATIONS:0

Type of Site

No information available.

Location and Setting

Dalzell House lies some 1.5 miles (2.5km) to the south-east of Motherwell town centre. It lies on the north side of the River Clyde's broad valley and the river forms its southern boundary. The Dalzell Burn has cut a narrow gorge in the Carboniferous sandstone on its way to the Clyde; Dalzell House was built as a stronghold on the north bank above the gorge with steep slopes to the south and east of the keep and a moat to its west. The soils are mainly brownearths and they support a wide range of plants. The house's situation affords fine views of the surrounding landscape and particularly southwards across the Clyde Valley. The designed landscape is visible mainly from across the Clyde to the south but the north parks and policy woodlands are also visible from the neighbouring area.

The house is set in the centre of the park on a hill some 263' (80m) high. The land slopes gently southwards to the Clyde. The designed landscape extends from the Clyde in the south and follows the policy woodlands to the west and east to the minor road and lodges in the north. Baron's Haugh was once part of the estate and the beech avenue extended westwards along the Clyde to the Roman Camp at the western end of the walk where the summerhouse known as Gladstone's used to stand. These western fields were not marked as parkland on the 1st edition OS map although were probably used as pastureland and did contain some individual trees. By 1900 and the 2nd edition map, the Dalzell and Broomside Collieries and their associated railway lines had extended into this western part of the estate. The inner policies have retained the same boundary since the 1850s. The main lime avenues to the south of the house can be identified on both maps and the remnants can be identified today. There are 232 acres (94ha) within the designed landscape today.

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

Dalzell House is based on an ancient keep dating back to the mid-15th century. At that time, it was surrounded by a moat and defended by a portcullis across the entrance to the keep. It was extended in the 17th century when a new three-storey turretted and dormered wing was added at the south-west. The tower house was restored by Maitland Wardrop in 1853. In 1857 the architect and antiquarian R.W. Billings remodelled and further extended the house adding a north wing and stable block. It is the only category A listed building in Motherwell District. The Terraced Garden contained several architectural features: the three terraces on the steep south face of the Burn are enclosed by ornamental walls, and on the second terrace two sundials and a fountain used to stand. The 60' deep St. Margaret's well lies in the West Courtyard; the Coach- house and Stables in the North Courtyard are in the process of conversion to housing.

The summerhouse was built c.1736 on the site of the Roman Camp at the western end of the Park; it was known as 'Gladstone's Summerhouse' after Gladstone visited in 1879. It was moved to its present site north of the house for safety but its roof was destroyed by arson in 1985. The Gazebo, built by Lord Gavin, is a mid-19th century summerhouse above The Dell and mausoleum and is listed B.

The Mausoleum was built in c.1800 on the site and plan of the former St. Patrick's Church which had been used as a parish church until 1789. The Mausoleum is listed B and the graveyard is listed B. There are also some interesting bridges across the Dalzell Burn and its tributaries.

Parkland

The former deer parks are still in pasture; the north park has lost some of its trees on the west side but retains some parkland trees on the east side. The cricket ground is within the eastern half and a field is let for horse- grazing in the west half. The southern parks are still in pasture and the striking lines of the avenue define a vista from the house southwards across the river. The river is lined with an avenue to the west known as the 'Beech Walk' and reputed to be one of the first of its kind. The main drive to the house is lined with an avenue. The marshland adjacent to the river to the south-west of the parks is now managed by the RSPB as a wildlife reserve.

Woodland

There is substantial woodland cover in the policies, composed of a wide range of species both exotic and indigenous. Sycamore is predominating in the mixed deciduous areas with yew and Rhododendron forming thick layers of understorey in many parts of the grounds. The northern fringe woodlands are suffering from litter dumping and vandalism. There are some older oaks and beech around 200 years old. Sycamore, rowan and poplar have naturally regenerated and some areas could be thinned to allow greater light penetration and improve the ground flora. There is a very old oak in the north-west of the park.

Woodland Garden

Woodland walks extend from the house on both sides of the Burn. To the east, the paths go through to the Japanese Garden, and along the gorge to the west. South of the house (on the brow of the hill overlooking the view southwards), there are the remains of the old Bowling Green, now overgrown. Woodland paths lead up to the Faerie Circle and arboretum and westwards to the Mausoleum and The Dell. The woodland is of mixed deciduous species: horse chestnut, beech, oak, ash and sycamore, underplanted with Rhododenron.

The Gardens

The Japanese Garden was apparently moved from a site further to the west in the Park, to its present position on the banks of the Dalzell Burn. It was created by Lady Sybil Hamilton in the early 1900s. Very little of the original plant material now remains although bamboo and Japanese maples have survived. It once contained a pond, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, ornamental statues (oriental dragons and lions), and a flight of steps modelled on those of the Buddhist Temple in Nagasaki. Yew and Rhododendron have grown up through this garden to the waterfall which is still an attractive feature.

A path leads from the Terraced Garden into the arboretum to the west of the house. The trees have all been recorded and the arboretum includes some good specimen trees including Tulip trees, Cedars, a Deodar, Sequoias, and an avenue of Irish Yew. Adjacent to the drive at its east end is the Cadzow oak, a very old pedunculate oak, of which the narrowest part of the girth was measured as 24' in the early 1900s. Within the arboretum is the Rose Garden of small flowerbeds planted up with shrub roses, and to the north of the Drive is the Shrubbery recently planted up with flowering shrub species. There are some interesting Rhododendrons in the arboretum. The 'Faerie Circle' to the south-west corner of the arboretum is a circle of yew trees planted above the Burn. A summerhouse was marked on the 1st edition OS map of c.1850 in this area. From here there is a good view westwards of the stone arched bridge downstream.

Woodland walks extend from the house on both sides of the Burn. To the east, the paths go through to the Japanese Garden, and along the gorge to the west. South of the house (on the brow of the hill overlooking the view southwards), there are the remains of the old Bowling Green, now overgrown. Woodland paths lead up to the Faerie Circle and arboretum and westwards to the Mausoleum and The Dell. The woodland is of mixed deciduous species: horse chestnut, beech, oak, ash and sycamore, underplanted with Rhododenron.

The area to the north of the mausoleum was planted up as a garden by Lord Gavin Hamilton in memory of his wife, Lady Sybil. The octagonal gazebo was built at the top or north end of the garden and Lord Gavin used to sit there overlooking his wife's grave. A plaque in the gazebo was inscribed with the dedication 'In Memory of 33 Happy Years'. Stepping stones lead down through the garden to the mausoleum; the garden is now overgrown.

Arboretum

A path leads from the Terraced Garden into the arboretum to the west of the house. The trees have all been recorded and the arboretum includes some good specimen trees including Tulip trees, Cedars, a Deodar, Sequoias, and an avenue of Irish Yew. Adjacent to the drive at its east end is the Cadzow oak, a very old pedunculate oak, of which the narrowest part of the girth was measured as 24' in the early 1900s. Within the arboretum is the Rose Garden of small flowerbeds planted up with shrub roses, and to the north of the Drive is the Shrubbery recently planted up with flowering shrub species. There are some interesting Rhododendrons in the arboretum. The 'Faerie Circle' to the south-west corner of the arboretum is a circle of yew trees planted above the Burn. A summerhouse was marked on the 1st edition OS map of c.1850 in this area. From here there is a good view westwards of the stone arched bridge downstream.