Stables
In 1811 the stables building was constructed by James Watson to the design of architect Robert Reid.
The building is a classical, U-plan, long symmetrical, two storey construction, having advanced cart-shed pavilions at either end with segmental headed giant openings to the front and inner sides. The central bay, facing east, has a similar giant arched entrance pavilion supporting an octagonal clock tower with a bull’s-eye window, and originally having a domed roof. The walls are of sandstone rubble construction faced on all elevations, except the rear, with horizontally droved sandstone blocks of fine quality. All the windows on the front elevation and the two side elevations (except the window on each level nearest to the rear corners of the building) were built blind, and
were for decoration purposes only. The windows on the rear elevation were all functional.
Within the central archway at the front of the building there was originally a rectangular doorway, flanked by blind windows, which led into the former harness room. This room occupied the ground floor at the base of the clock tower, and was of square construction, having a fireplace in its north-east corner, and a stone stairway rising up the face of its south wall, leading to a circular room above. The doorway into the harness room has been blocked at some time, the lower part being replaced with droved sandstone blocks similar to the original facings, and a grille of vertical iron bars installed above. The existing doorway immediately to the right of the entrance pavilion was originally constructed as a window, and this change of function may have been made to compensate for the loss of the central doorway.
Flagstone flooring was laid throughout the entire ground floor level of the stable block, including the two cart-shed pavilions. In front of the building the ground was finished by setted cobbles extending outwards from the entrance courtyard. At a later date, a small cast iron stove was set into each of the external side walls of the cart-shed pavilions, close to the front corner, and remains of piping protrude through to the inside wall - presumably this was some form of heating arrangement to protect the carriages from damp.
The stable block would have housed about seven horses, a forge for replacing shoes and ancillary accommodation. The functional windows of the second storey level, above the north and south wings, are placed very low down in the wall close to the floor, and this may suggest previous use as a hay loft.
In 1975, when Percival Maitland-Tennant, the last private owner of Cammo, died, six rusted motor cars were found at the rear of the stables.
In 2017, the City Council cut down all self-seeded trees, both within the stables building and within a reasonable distance outside. Some of these trees had grown to a considerable size and there was a danger their roots would damage the built structures.