Snelsmore House

Snelsmore House is a house dating from circa 1905, likely incorporating a rebuilding of an earlier circa early 19th century structure, with a 1950 extension. It is constructed of English, Flemish and header bond red brick with tile dressings, with a service wing of painted brick. The flat roof is now clad in felt; slate roofs cover the wings.

The house is arranged with principal rooms facing the east garden, a long axial stairhall behind, an entrance vestibule and loggia, and a nearly detached porch to the west. Service wings extend to the north and west, incorporating the earlier 19th century house, with a further extension added in 1950.

The asymmetrical elevations feature flat roofs concealed behind parapets with tile courses. The west front has two large five-light mullion-transom windows to the hall and stair, and five smaller first-floor windows, all with tiled heads. A nearly detached porch is situated at a higher level, featuring a hipped tiled roof, timber posts on a brick wall, and wrought-iron gates leading to steps and an arcaded loggia with tile arches and plank door. A lower wing to the left incorporates two canted oriels and the 1950 extension.

The south side presents a triangular bay window on the left, followed by the south side of the porch, a lateral stack in the angle, and a two-storey canted bay on the right southeast corner. The east garden front has a large, two-storey semi-circular bay at the centre, flanked by canted three-light windows set back within reveals. A stack rises from the parapet with small consoles and a stone tablet bearing a wreath. There are also three, four, and six-light mullion windows on the first floor, with a glazed garden door on the right and a small arched light above. To the right of the door, the house steps down to a single-story section with a balcony above, featuring wrought-iron balustrade. The service wing is set back on the right and includes a later conservatory and a canted bay, with a late 20th century sun-room on the front and a splayed rear northwest corner. All windows have metal casements with leaded panes.

The interior retains much of its early 20th-century character, with complete joinery. The hall features dado panelling and a Jacobethan style open-well staircase with an arcaded balustrade and tall newel finials. A large drawing room has dado panelling, a moulded plaster frieze, beams, and an inglenook within the semi-circular bay, featuring a wide segmental tile arch, corbelled brick fireplace, and tapered chimney-breast with tile strings. Chambers have small chimneypieces. The service wing retains joinery including some early 19th-century panelled doors.

Historically, the house was owned by the Earl of Ronaldsay in the 19th century and was depicted on the 1880 Ordnance Survey map as a smaller house called Island Villa. The 1912 map shows it as a larger house named The Durnalls, and it was sold in 1933 by the Marquess of Zetland (Dundas family).