Artistic Interest
- Level of interest
- High
Rednock is an interesting example of the work of James Ramsay and has high value as a Work of Art.
Historical
- Level of interest
- Some
Rednock has some Historical value based on its association with the Graham family.
Horticultural
- Level of interest
- Little
There are some interesting conifers and Rhododendrons planted along the woodland walk giving Rednock a little Horticultural value.
Architectural
- Level of interest
- High
The designed landscape provides the setting for Rednock House and its associated buildings which are listed B, and it therefore has high value for architecture.
Archaeological
- Level of interest
- Not Assessed
Scenic
- Level of interest
- Some
The parkland and some of the woodlands are visible from the A873 and make some Scenic contribution to the views.
Nature Conservation
- Level of interest
- High
The older woodlands and water features provide relatively undisturbed habitats and have high value for Nature Conservation.
Site History
The landscape at Rednock was laid out c.1820 to the designs of James Ramsay. The house was extended at the same period to designs by Robert Brown.
While parts of the estate are older, the layout of the designed landscape appears to date from the 1820s when plans were drawn up for a mansion house extension by Robert Brown in 1821. This was built in 1827 and many of the parkland trees date from this period. A plan for the grounds was initially drawn up by James Ramsay in 1796 and Tait describes it as having 'sympathetically incorporated much of the existing landscape shown in McArthur's Survey of 1772'. A new approach road and lodge were built by McFarlane in 1838 and the Baronial additions were made to the house in 1840. By 1880 the OS Gazetteer describes Rednock as 'a modern mansion with finely wooded policies'. More trees were planted by the present owner's great- uncle, Mr Shepherd, in the early 1900s. During World War II, the house was requisitioned and the park was used as an ammunition dump with some resulting damage to its features. The present owners moved to Rednock in 1954.
Landscape Components
Architectural Features
Rednock House: the early part of the house dates from the 18th century and a two- storey block was added to its east side in 1827, forming the main part of the house today. This has a pedimented porch and steps flanked by two large eagles, the Graham crest. The screen walls and circular baronial towers were added to the wings at the junction of the old and new houses around 1840. The house is listed B. The Stable-block, listed B, probably dates from the mid-18th century and was remodelled by Brown in c.1827. It is quadrangular with a centre archway and had an octagonal dome tower which was removed in the 1980s as it was in poor condition.
The walled garden is listed B, dating from 1816, and has high rubble walls with West and East Gateways framed in half vermiculated pilaster strips. A gate in the north wall is set at an angle to it and the north wall is hollow for heating. There is a square cistern house at its east end. The Ice House is listed B and is egg-shaped but has suffered some gale damage to its roof, which was decorated with quartz boulders.
Parkland
There are some older large trees in the park of late 18th century which predate the designed landscape and tradition holds that there was a lime and oak avenue leading to the house from the north which was later interrupted by the building of the walled garden and by the new approach road. Most of the designed parks are still grazed although some have been converted to arable use and these have lost more of their individual parkland trees. Within the parks there are limes, oak, sycamore and beech dating from the 1820s with later conifers including Wellingtonias planted in c.1900. The former dower house, Grahamestoun, was pulled down in the 1900s. The course of the Rednock Burn was altered, possibly at the same time that the mansion house was built, and was canalised to the west of the house away from the new eastern approach. The burn was used to feed the new serpentine lake which lies to the south- east of the house and whose shape is well-defined on the 1st edition OS map but is less distinct today as its margins have become overgrown.
Woodland
Most of the commercial woodlands are now managed under a Forestry Commission Dedication Scheme. Earl's Hill has now been planted with softwoods but retains a hardwood edge. Most of the planting over the years has been of mixed species with beech, oak, lime, pine and cedar. The conifers were mainly planted around 1900 by Mr Shepherd.
Woodland Garden
The woodland walk to the west of the house and up to the Lake of Menteith was planted up in the early 1900s by Mr Shepherd. Some of the exotic conifers have been measured by Alan Mitchell and include a Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and a Picea jezoensis. The two small lochs to the north of the west drive were surrounded with ornamental plantings of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. The ponds were used for curling but one of them is now rather overgrown. Many Rhododendron varieties survive around their shores. There was also a walk from the house up to the walled garden.
Walled Gardens
The garden was built between 1816-1820 and its walls contain several interesting features including the cistern building in the north-east corner of the garden. A canal- type feature is shown in the early map at this end of the garden. The gardens were kept up until World War II with ornamental planting as well as vegetables. The box hedges surrounding the beds remain along the north section of the garden. There were also extensive glasshouses including a Peach House which was destroyed by a land-mine during World War II. Part of the garden is kept for fruit and vegetable growing.