Dun Dubh, Aberfoyle, Stirling

Entry Name: Dun Dubh

Listing Name: Dun Dhu (Also Known As Dun Dubh or Mell Mhor)

Listing Date: 5 October 1971

Category: C

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 335455

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB4219

Building Class: Cultural

Location: Aberfoyle

County: Stirling

Electoral Ward: Trossachs and Teith

Parish: Aberfoyle

Traditional County: Perthshire

Description

Loch Lomond And Trossachs National Park Planning Authority

Dun Dubh is a small C-plan, 2-storey asymmetrical mansion, built in 1886 in a plain 17th century revival style; the character of the house is defined by the use of a gabled roofline, irregularly disposed red sandstone mullioned windows, a mixture of vertically and horizontally orientated openings, and an unusual quoin arrangement of long verticals broken by short horizontals. The house is located in on a wooded site overlooking Loch Ard to the W.

The house is approached from the N; the N elevation has 3 gables, the outer two of which are slightly advanced. The entrance porch is a deeply corniced, flat roofed rectangular projection from the right of the centre section, with a roll moulded doorpiece and riveted timber door offset to the right, and a date plaque to the left. Above the porch is a 4-light window to light the stair hall within.

The W elevation is double-gabled; the windows on this elevation have had their mullions removed and modern glazing inserted; there was also originally a small timber conservatory to the right of this elevation. Both the W and the longer S elevation have view over Loch Ard. The S elevation is 4-bay, with 2 gables to the centre and a parapeted canted 2-storey bay window. The rear (E) elevation, which has a gable to the left and a small single storey lean-to projection, also has the door to the service area of the house.

Interior:

Most of the original joinery and plasterwork remains. The billiard room has a ceiling divided into squares by timber and plaster mouldings. The W public room has two stone bolection chimneypieces. The entrance porch contains a small timber-panelled cloakroom. The ¼ turn timber stair has an unusual fretwork design baluster.

Materials:

Random rubble with red bull-faced sandstone margins and quoins; at the time of the 1st survey (1971) the house was harled, and may have originally been so. Mixture of multi-pane timber casement windows and sash and case windows; some modern windows. Pitched roof, graded slates, stone skews. Cast iron rain water goods including ornamental hoppers. Corniced gable head and wall head stacks.

Statement of Interest

Dun Dhu was built for a Colonel Eyres, whose monogram is on the date stone on the N elevation.

To the NW of the main house is the roofless shell of the coach house, which was originally designed in the same style as the house. Also to the NW is a small brick-built generator house, dating to the earlier 20th century.

External Links

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