Logan House (also known as Balzieland)

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

Location and Setting

Logan House is situated on the southern peninsula of The Rhinns of Galloway some 9 miles (14.5km) south of Stranraer. The B7065 runs along the eastern boundary of the site linking Port Logan with the main A716 to the north. The peninsula is some 14 miles long and 3 miles wide. Surrounded on three sides by the sea, The Rhinns enjoy a mild climate tempered by the influence of the Gulf Stream from the west. The soil is loamy peat and sand. Logan House lies at approximately 100' above sea level and the surrounding landscape is flat agricultural land. From the house there is an extensive panoramic view across Luce Bay to Galloway in the east, south to the Lake District and south-west to the Mourne Mountains of Ireland. The designed landscape is moderately significant in the local scenery; the house with its woodland backdrop can be seen from the B7065.

Logan House is situated in the centre of some 796 acres (322ha) of designed landscape which extends north-east to the A716 and south-west to Port Logan Bay. Comparison of General Roy's map of c.1750 with the 1st & 2nd edition OS maps of c.1860 and 1900 shows that the designed landscape was extensively expanded between the 1750s and the mid 19th century.

Some 14 acres (5.7 ha) of the designed landscape is now managed as an annexe of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and is the subject of a separate report (q.v.).

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

Logan House, listed category A, is a fine Queen Anne house completed in 1702; earlier construction can be identified in the cellar. The house was subject to extensive additions by David Bryce in 1874 which left only the original back wall exposed. These additions and the wings of the 18th century house were removed in 1949.

Statues of Owls stand on the terrace next to Logan House. Stone Owls were salvaged from the demolition of the Victorian house. Stone urns stand on the terraced walls to the east of the house.

Parkland

The parkland lies to the east and west of the central axis of woodland and garden which forms the core of the landscape. The parks were laid out c.1800 and were extensively improved between 1870 and 1920. The loch in the Dam Park was enlarged in 1901 it is now obscured from the house by alder. Monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana), of about 100 years old, line the edge of the pond. The park is now largely open pasture with occasional clumps of trees and a few individual specimens. The clumps of trees are composed largely of beech with some oak, dating from about the 1870 period. The number of clumps has been reduced since c.1910. The park immediately west of the house has been developed as part of the woodland garden. The north drive approaches the house along the edge of Dam Park. The east drive, now diverted to provide vehicular access to the Botanic Garden, cuts through the park from the B7065.

Woodland

The woodlands are of particular importance at Logan due to the shelter they provide from the prevailing westerly winds. The original, predominantly beech, woodlands of c.1800 are now in decline. However, beech remain in an area to the north of the house, to the east on Court Hill Plantation and to the south in Glen Plantation. Some hardwood replacement has taken place and most of the larger woodlands, particularly in the north of the site, have been planted with mixed conifers since the last war. Broadleaved belts have been left to regenerate and have been replanted along some edges. A picturesque walk called The Primula Walk runs through the southern woodlands to the shore at Logan Fish Pond which is carpeted with Primulas during the spring. The walk is bordered by rhododendrons, mostly planted in the early 19th century.

Woodland Garden

The Woodland Garden was established by Mrs Agnes McDouall, great-aunt of the present owner, from 1869 and continued by her two sons and their cousin, Sir Ninian Buchan-Hepburn. Part of the original woodland garden is now incorporated in Logan Botanic Garden. Species Rhododendrons form the structure, many raised from seed from expeditions of George Forrest and Reginald Farrer. Other natives of temperate zone countries were introduced to the garden and have become well-established. The garden hosted a respected collection which was described in the Gardeners' Chronicle in 1901 and 'The Garden' in 1924. The density of planting was such that extensive thinning was required in 1954 which revealed many fine R. arboretum specimens.

Within the garden are a series of smaller gardens. To the north-west of the house lies the Hen-Knowe shrubbery, where Rhododendrons predominate. South-west of the house, in the Monkey puzzle shrubbery, are several fine Eucalyptus, planted in 1922; among them, E. coccifera and E. globulus. In the Octopus Garden south of the house are some fine Embothrium, in particular E. lanceolatum 'Norquinco Valley', E. coccineum and the variety 'Logan Damaris' raised by Kenneth McDouall at Logan in the 1930s.

The Cow Park Shrubbery extends along the east boundary of the garden between the house and the park south of it lies the Bog Garden. In the scree garden, created in the 1940s, are some fine specimen shrubs, especially Olearias. Plants of particular interest in each garden are noted in the guidebook prepared by Sir Ninian Buchan-Hepburn. There are a number of significant specimen trees in the garden about thirty of which were measured by Alan Mitchell in 1979.

The Gardens

Formal grass terraces provide a setting to Logan House and an effective transition between Logan House and the woodland garden. A raised terrace was created at the east front of the house in c.1949 using masonry from the Victorian front of the house which was demolished at that time.

Walled Garden

The Walled Garden is situated to the south of Logan House and incorporates the area which was the kitchen garden but was converted by Mr Kenneth McDouall to provide habitats for his most tender plants. It was gifted to the Secretary of State for Scotland in 1969 and is managed as Logan Botanic Garden which is the subject of a separate report.