Page 45 - Bulletin 19 2015

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walls of the ground storey and chimney detail of the house on the left are particularly fine, in

my view. I also like the use of white paintwork as a contrast to the natural stone. A detail to
note is that the re-pointing of the stonework on the house on the right is not quite as subtle as

that of its neighbour.

The new pan-handle immediately next to these houses is an example of poor choice of
materials. I would in this case rather see a plastered wall with copings than the fake stone

boundary wall, or for that matter the wall that has real stone stuck on and not used in a load

bearing manner. (Fig. 1.62.)

Rust en Vrede is in a league of its own. (Figs. 1.63 - 1.65.) Superb boundary stone work,

beautiful gates, mouldings and fencing that breaks the scale. The smaller-scaled coach-house
is a delight. Some older photos show the construction of the wall with horse and cart

delivering the stone.

Watergate a bit further on has particularly fine stonework in the boundary wall and the
building itself has a grandeur unrivalled on the strip. Whereas the Rust en Vrede boundary

wall is simple and unassertive, this wall is a work of genius. (Figs. 1.66 - 1.69.) Witness the

curved top of each keystone that pops into the white plastered moulding above, and the ever
so subtle buttressing that frames the three oval openings. The curved keystone is repeated

four times in each of these ovals. The lintel above the gate to the cottage consists of a notched
keystone resting on two cantilevered support stones, and the curved spring-stone echoes the

timber detailing in the gate itself. The ornate panelling placed on the outside of the fencing is

a shame.

Long painted-over frescos by Wynne Quail uncovered, restored and lovely. (Fig. 1.70.)

These steps were chosen for a number of reasons. Note the granite steps on the left versus the

sandstone ones on the right. The set back cottage called Corriemar has quaint infill random
stone that appears sporadically throughout the hillside in different places: perhaps the same

builder. The formalisation of the water spouts is recent by Civils 2000 and a lost opportunity
to do something slightly grander in my view. (Fig. 1.71.)