Description
1793, with extensive additions and alterations; baronialised A W Macnaughton 1891. 2-storey, 3-bay classical villa baronialised and extended to E to form irregular-plan Scottish baronial mansion house. Rubble sandstone to 1793 house; squared, snecked and stugged red sandstone to later additions. Crowstepped gables; ball finial; crenellated parapets.
1793 HOUSE
N (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: base, cill and dividing band course. Crenellated 1891 porch at ground in bay to outer left, adjoining 1891 extension; Lugged architraved doorway with carved heraldic decorative crest set in pediment; 2-leaf panelled timber door; single window behind at 1st floor; crowstepped dormer above. Pilastered and corniced tripartite window at ground in advanced central bay; single window at 1st floor, flanked to left by small window; later stepped corbel table above single window set in gablehead. Single windows in both storeys to outer right.
S ELEVATION: base, cill and dividing band course. Perron staircase to doorway flanked by 2 single windows in bowed central bay; 3 single windows to 1st floor; corbel table to later 3rd floor, 3 roll-moulded windows; machicolated and crenallated parapet; circular-plan turret with similarly detailed parapet. Single windows to all floors in bay to left. Bay to outer right rebuilt 1891; tripartite window to principal floor; bipartite window to 1st-floor; single window breaking eaves in pedimented dormerhead.
1891 HOUSE
N ELEVATION: 3-storey, 2-bay. Stepped string course above ground floor; stepped corbel table above 1st floor. Stone mullions and transoms to windows. Crenellated 1891 porch set in re-entrant angle to 1793 house. Bipartite window at ground in bay to right; tripartite stair window above; single window breaking eaves, pedimented dormer head. Bay to left; bipartite window at ground and 1st floor; oriel window set in gablehead.
E ELEVATION: 2 crowstepped gable bays. Tripartite window to ground and 1st floor at bay to left; single pedimented window set in gable; bartisan with pepperpot roof. Roll-moulded doorway; fanlight to left; single window to outer right, at ground in bay to right. Dormer and single window at ground in bay to right; decorative carved pediment at window to first floor and to single windows set in gablehead; bartisan with pepperpot roof flanking bay to outer right; two gablehead stacks linked by machicolated parapet.
S ELEVATION: single bay to outer right. 2-storey, 4-light canted window; 2 single windows breaking eaves in pedimented dormers above; bartisan with pepperpot roof flanking to left. Single bay to outer left, 1793 house adjoining at ground. Single pedimented window in gable to left; two dormers breaking eaves to right.
W ELEVATION: M-gabled; 1793 house and later additions adjoining at ground. Single window at 2nd floor in central bay; flanking dormer windows breaking eaves.
SERVICE WING AND LATER ADDITIONS: lower 2-storey 1891 service wing adjoining 1793 house to W; single storey flat roofed cafeteria (Frank Mears, 1936-7); horizontal strip glazing divided by stylo pilasters to S elevation of cafeteria.
Variety of glazing patterns, predominantly in timber sash and case windows. Graded grey slate roof; terracotta ridging; corniced gablehead stacks; moulded cans; cast-iron rainwater goods.
INTERIOR: glazed cupola to entrance lobby: highly decorative timber fireplace with corinthian columns and relief panel to stair-hall; turned timber balusters and decorative newel posts to main stair; stained glass windows depicting the Arts; timber dado panelling to ground floor; 1st floor restaurant, highly decorative plasterwork, cornice and frieze; elaborate rococo chimneypiece, overmantle mirror and panelling.
SUNDIAL: located to S of house; circular shaft; vertical dial and gnomon.