Cathlaw House is an old mansion from the 18th century, standing on its own sloping grounds, amidst the Bathgate hills.
Torphichen, where Cathlaw House is located, has an interesting history. The ancient land around Torphichen was settled by the Knights Hospitaller of St John in the 1160’s when they built the Preceptory.
Cathlaw House is located on the east side of Torphichen village, only a short walk away from the Preceptory.
It is believed to be mainly constructed in the 19th century from around 1840.
However, the unevenness in form implies an older house. Cathlaw House belonged formerly to the Hamilton’s of Westport.
This category B-listed country house is a two and a half storeys, harled mansion with porch. It is slated with a skew-gabled roof, and gabled chimney and dormers.
Due to its location, Cathlaw House provides good views towards the north.
It has a large garden on its own mature grounds.
Cairnpapple Hill is located nearby to the south east of the estate.
Handsomely uneven harled mansion, stone window-dressings, ashlar chimneystacks but curiously harled dormer windows. Its present form c.1840, but the unevenness implies something older. Exquisite late-medieval fragments, possibly from Edinburgh’s St Giles, adorn the walls.
Taken from “West Lothian: An Illustrated Architectural Guide”, by Stuart Eydmann, Richard Jaques and Charles McKean, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
DESCRIPTION
18th cent. Trad. 21/2 storeys. Harled.
Skew-gabled. Slated roof. Chimney gablet and gabled dormers.
Band-courses. Porch. Lower addition at E. end. Rear wing.
A HISTORY OF ESTATE AND LANDS
STATEMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST
Formerly belonged to Hamiltons of Westport (Linlithgow) and Cathlaw