Gingerbread House

I was reminded of James Gowans as I was browsing through a local history book so we wasted no time and set off to find this example of his unique style, a little way north of Armadale.

We did not approach Gowanbank, the main house, as the entrance is clearly private, (we may attempt a view at some point...) though spoke to a resident of The Barn, a mirror-image of the Gingerbread house, who allowed me to take photographs.

It  is described by GR Phelps Estate Agents and Property Marketing thus:
Scotland has many hidden gems. But there are not many as unusual as the A-listed Gingerbread House, Gowanbank. It has it's own precious stones - amethyst and quartz, laid into the patterned stonework at the front of the house.
The building is of such an unusual design that James Gowans used it to demonstrate innovative building techniques by reproducing it on the Meadows in Edinburgh as part of Scotland's own Great Exhibition in 1886. James Gowans was knighted for his contributions to this event and there are monuments to commemorate it, and to celebrate stonecraft, which can be seen in the Meadows today.
A former cottage, previously linked through to a saddlery and stables at the rear, the whole complex has been converted into a spacious but cosy family residence with many attractive and unique features, making its name appropriate.
There are 2 large decorative chimneys with patterned stonework, decorative windows with wooden detail that echoes the shape of the stone and wooden roof and dormer supports, stone steps at the entrance with an antique stained glass door, and 2 large half stable doors.


A full history of James Gowans follows this series of photographs by Monica Wilde on her interesting website,which gives far more detail than II could include here.

An extra photo is of the stained glass in the front door, as mentioned in the text, as I have a fondness for stained glass.