The Lions Gate, Preston Hall House Policies, Pathhead

Pair of single storey, square-plan classical lodges with balustraded screen walls and paired columns supporting recumbent Coade stone lions. Dressed ashlar. Base and eaves course. Originally 12-pane timber sash and case, presently concealed behind timber sheeting. Piended grey slate roof with zinc ridging. Concealed rainwater goods. Stack to left of main building, replacement stack on W lodge, damaged cans; cans missing on E lodge.

Situated at the formal entrance to Prestonhall, the lodges straddle the drive that winds along a wooded slope, at the foot of which flows the Tyne Water. The origin of the lodges' name can be taken from the two lions which surmount the pillars, or from the circumstance that Sir Walter Scott, at this spot, introduces Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, Lord Lion King of Arms, for Scotland, as the guide of "Marmion" and his train to Crichton Castle. It was on this site that the Duchess of Gordon, then owner of the Hall, had breakfast prepared for Prince Charles Stuart in 1745. For this act, she lost the £1000 pension she received from the Exchequer, which she had been granted for raising her family as Protestants.

The ornamental lions are made from Coade stone - one of the earliest mass-produced artificial stones, named after its manufacturer Mrs Eleanor Coade. (Historic Scotland)

23 May 2012: External inspection finds the general appearance of the gates is good, however, closer inspection finds evidence of subsidence and water penetration, particularly at the western lodge building and its single storey outshoot. From what could be seen from the exterior, interiors of the lodges have been seriously damaged as a result.

22 August 2018: A member of the public notes a section of wall to the west of the gates has collapsed. As previously noted, parts of the two lions are missing and cracks to the extant fabric are evident.

23 March 2022: External inspection finds that the condition of the western lodge has greatly deteriorated. The west elevation has collapsed, as well as the roof of the section to the rear. This has resulted in the loss of the chimney on the western lodge. There are several structural cracks and movement of the skews on the north elevation. A section of the adjacent wall has collapsed to west of lodge.
The eastern lodge is in less severe condition. There are signs of damp and accelerated stone decay and mortar loss on the east elevation. Roof appears intact from ground level but unable to view total structure. Move condition to very poor and risk to high.