Millbank House, Bute

Millbank House is a mid to later 19th-century asymmetrical house located in Bute. The main body of the house is two storeys and two bays, with a single-storey, single-bay recessed entrance wing to the right and an advanced two-storey, single-bay wing to the outer right. The external walls are constructed of coursed, tooled rubble sandstone, with cherry-cocked detailing to the sides and the wing to the outer right, complemented by yellow sandstone ashlar dressings. Ashlar strip quoins are present, as is a polished base course and a moulded eaves course beneath overhanging timber-bracketed eaves. A dentilled cornice features on the entrance wing, and a painted blocking course runs along the top. Drove yellow sandstone forms quoins, and droved long and short surrounds define the raised, polished openings.

The east, or entrance, elevation features a timber panelled door centred in the recessed entrance wing, which is offset to the right of the main block’s centre. Above the door is an etched fanlight and a consoled doorpiece featuring stylised pilasters and a keystone, flanked by narrow, slightly recessed decorative side-lights. A single window is positioned at ground level in the bay to the right of the main block, with an architraved cill. A projecting first-floor bipartite window sits on a corbelled timber base, finished with a swept segmental-arched roof. A three-light bow window is present at ground level in the bay to the outer left, with architraved surrounds, stylised keystones, and a cornice. A balustraded parapet forms a balcony, accessible from a first-floor patio door. The advanced wing features regularly spaced windows.

Most windows retain their original two-pane timber sash and case glazing. The roof is covered with grey slate, and the wallhead features corniced, square-plan sandstone ashlar stacks from which the cans are missing.

The interior includes a main stair with a cast-iron balustrade, timber treads and handrail, and a decorative timber dado panelling. A single oculus is set within the rectangular stair-light above. Decorative plasterwork adorns the outer frieze. Timber panelled doors, timber skirting boards, and architraved picture rails are also present, alongside ornate foliate plaster ceiling roses and intricate cornices – the drawing room has foliate detailing while the frieze features swags.

The boundary wall, gate piers, gates, and terrace fence consist of a squared and snecked tooled rubble sandstone wall flanking the entrance to the north. Polished sandstone piers are panelled and square-plan, supporting decorative cast-iron gates. A simple cast-iron fence encloses the terrace to the front of the house.