Description

Andrew Heiton, dated 1885. Idiosyncratic neo-medieval mansion, rectangular plan 3-storey and attic Baronial tower house, with neo-medieval timber bargeboarded dormers and Arts Movement interior; long low (2-storey) wing along NW elevation, projecting at NE. red bull-faced sandstone rubble; grey slated pavilion roofs; bold circular 4-storey angle towers with steeply battered walls at ground floor, slightly corbelled 4th floors and slated conical roofs with cast-iron finials. Rectangular windows with timber mullioned and transomed frames; plate-glass, upper panes leaded with small square grid pattern at 2nd (bedroom) floors. Elaborate cantilevered cast-iron balcony at 1st, 2nd and attic levels on garden (SW) elevation. Wallhead stacks.

SE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 2-bay main block between towers; low ancillary wing recessed far behind to right. Main block: 4-storey square-plan tower projecting to right containing entrance in concealed NE re-entrant angle: bolection moulded ashlar doorcase with neo-medieval inscription in raised lettering at lintel "be just and joyous do none injury"; vertically ribbed door with brass fittings including elaborate bell-pull. 2 bays recessed between, with asymmetrical chimney breast linked to circular tower to left, rising above eaves as tall wallhead stack.

SW (GARDEN) ELEVATION: symmetrica, 4-bay with flanking angle towers. Elaborate cast-iron balcony by McDowell Steven & Co, supported on bold masonry corbel brackets: rail has quatrefoil detailing at base, traceried arcading above; barley sugar colonettes with capitals and finely cast brackets; decorated frieze and cornice above. Balcony subsequently heightened to 2nd floor (very basic iron construction).

ANCILLARY BLOCK: to left has L-plan front, pair segmental-arched wide openings in recessed bay, originally open corridor, slightly later glazed timber screens as infill; door to right in advanced bay; tripartite dormer-headed window with cusped bargeboards above.

NW ELEVATION: masked below by ancillary wing the entire length of the house, and extending beyond at NE for 2 bays: 2-storey, asymmetrical bays; ground floor elevation battered, as at corner towers of main house; vertically barred ground floor windows, bargeboarded dormer-headed windows and tall wallhead stack rising from 1st floor.

NE ELEVATION: to right asymmetrical end elevation of ancillary wing, with bartizan turret corbelled at angle. Plain elevation of main house to left, including tripartite mullioned and transomed stair window off-centre.

INTERIOR: service at ground, principal rooms 1st, bedrooms and attic 2nd. Much of the original decorative scheme survives, inlcuding vertically boarded pine panelling, fielded panelling in circular turret spaces, full;height pine fitted wardrobes in some bedrooms with brass fittings, and many original chimneypieces in wide variety of styles including: small simple timber frame with 3 inset round painted enamel discs at frieze; 4 inset Delft-ware tiles at frieze, Delft-ware tiled reveals and decorative cast-iron grate; simple Art Nouveau style chimneypiece with elongated narrow consoles, plain frieze slightly later, of circa 1905 (white painted timber); mahogany chimneypiece, single-piece with overmnatel mirror at centre and carved panel insets; standard chimneypiece type is plain timber (painted and unpainted) with chunky cusped console brackets below lintel.

ENTRANCE HALL: arcaded screen leading to dog-leg stair, (timber, half panelled at lower section of rail, timber balusters at upper section, carved finials).

KITCHEN: wide neo-medieval fireplace with stone relieving arch, tiled floor.

BILLIARD ROOM: (attic floor), mock barrel vaulted ceiling with thin decoratie ribs, centre arched brace (decorative) with cusped cut-out detailing, wallpaper to dado possibly original, timber chimneypiece (pilastered consoles, decorative cast-iron splayed reveals and grate), overmantel recently replaced (1991).

Statement of Interest

Known as White Loch Guest House, 1991.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17830887

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]