Description

Late 19th century. Single storey and attic, 3-bay L-plan house with idiosyncratic, battered, octagonal corbelled viewing tower in re-entrant angle to N. Coursed pink granite. Base course, eaves band course. Raised coped skews and skewputts. Granite steps with iron banisters lead to central 4-panelled timber door, set within narrow pilastered timber doorpiece with narrow, part glazed sidelights and granite console above. Flanked by canted bay windows, rising to full dormers with piended roofs.

Predominantly 4-pane and plate glass timber sash and case windows. Grey slate. Gable stacks.

INTERIOR: access not possible at time of visit but believed to be modernised (2005.)

ANCILLARY STRUCTURE AND BOUNDARY WALL: single storey granite rubble former gig house to NE, with 12-pane sash and case window. Timber boarded doors, hayloft opening to W gable. Slate roof. Rubble boundary wall with rubble coping and pair of square, coped gate piers to S.

Statement of Interest

Glenbardie is a fine example of a Victorian villa, set within its own spacious rounds but it is distinguished by its tall octagonal tower to the rear. Situated on the main road into Ballater from the West, it presents a noticeable addition to the streetscape, with the tower easily visible. Braemar Road is an area of Ballater which underwent transformation from wooded countryside to elite suburb during the last 30 years of the 19th century. A succession of prestigious houses were built on spacious plots along the road, reflecting Ballater's popularity with the wealthy as a summer base to explore the Highlands. This popularity was due in part to the proximity of Balmoral and the strong connections of the area with Queen Victoria.

Local knowledge suggests that the tower may have been built by a previous owner in memory of his wife.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77779398

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

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  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)