West Gate, Gosford House

Category

Library Item

Item no

29045

Title

West Gate, Gosford House

Description

A tall and ornate gatehouse at the entrance to the Gosford House estate. At the centre of the gate stands a tall arch with the motto 'Je Pense, Forward' carved in the stone above it. It is flanked by two carved coats of arms set into the walls. The structure is topped by ornamental stone carvings and stone spheres. To the right of the gate structure stands the gate house with chimneys. On the path that leads through the gate a man, woman and small child stand in period clothing.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1879

Size

12.0 x 16.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Gosford House is situated in 5000 acres of coast and parkland near Longniddry, East Lothian. It is the seat of the Charteris-Wemyss family and The Earls of Wemyss. The family bough the estate in 1781 and employed Charles Adam, architect of Edinburgh's Old College and Register house, to build the neoclassical mansion with the explicit specification that it be visible from Edinburgh. It was built between 1790-1880 and although the architect never saw it completed it is lauded as one of the better examples of his later works. In more recent history the mansion was used as a billet for soldiers in World War Two and in 1944 it became a Prisoner of War Camp for German prisoners.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Arches

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Architecture > Architectural features > Coats of arms

Architecture > Architectural features > Columns

Architecture > Architectural features > Finials

Architecture > Architectural features > Gates

Architecture > Architectural features > Gateways

Architecture > Architectural features > Stone carvings

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Coats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Skirts

Clothing and dress > Garments > Suits

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Fences

Landscape > Water > Reservoirs

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

People > Children > Boys

People > Children > Families

Places > Scotland > East Lothian

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Plants > Grasses > Grasses

Plants > Trees > Trees

Transport > Infrastructure > Bollards

Transport > Infrastructure > Roads

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