Description

Loch Lomond And Trossachs National Park Planning Authority

Substantial late 18th / early 19th century 3-storey, 3-bay public house. Prominently situated on The Square in the heart of the planned estate village of Gartmore, which was laid out by Nicol Graham and his descendents in the 18th century. Probably built as an inn, it is the only 3-storey building in Gartmore and one of the most imposing. It has good streetscape and historical value. Despite the loss of its slate roof and stacks, the exterior remains relatively unaltered and as an inn, it has played a prominent role in the social history of Gartmore.

Symmetrical principal (NE) elevation of central door flanked by single windows. Lower 2-storey M-pile wing to rear (SW) with later single storey, flat-roofed entrance added to side (NW) elevation, providing access from Main Street to the public bar. Long single storey 20th century extension to SE.

Interior

The interior has been comprehensively modernised. It comprises a public bar, lounge bar, restaurant and function room (in 20th century extension).

Materials

Roughcast with painted cills, base course, corner margins and band course with sign to centre. 4-pane timber sash and case windows with fenestration diminishing through the storeys. 2-leaf timber panelled front door with 4-pane fanlight, modern glazed timber inner door. Pitched roofs throughout with modern concrete tiles, graded grey slates to wing to rear. Roughcast coped gablehead stacks with yellow circular clay cans to rear wing. Timber bargeboards to main block. Some cast-iron rainwater goods.

Statement of Interest

The Black Bull is the only surviving public house in Gartmore (the other was The Vulcan now in domestic use, see separate listing). The Black Bull belonged to the Gartmore Estate until the early 1950s, when the estate was divided up and sold off.

The building has undergone a series of changes over the years. The earliest 19th century postcard shows the pub exterior of exposed random rubble with raised margins to the windows, which were 12-pane rather than 4. On the NW (street) elevation there was a forestair with pend to right - possibly providing access to stables behind. This arrangement was later replaced with a striking recessed keystoned doorpiece with side lights and large semicircular fanlight. The slate roof and stacks of the principal block were removed in the 1980s. The earliest 19th century postcard shows the publican was James Keir, who, according to the sign across the band course, was licensed to sell 'wine and spirits, porter and ales'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77778694

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

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability