Bute Estate Office, 55 High Street, Rothesay, Bute

Later 17th century (skew dated 1681); refurbished late 20th century. Rectangular-plan 3-storey with attic, 6-bay former town house with full-height projecting crowstepped stair tower off-set to left of centre; 2-storey, 2-bay pitched addition to outer right (Nos 57 and 59). Whitewashed harl; polished yellow sandstone dressings. Raised string course; moulded lintel course beneath eaves; crowstepped gables. Chamfered surrounds to openings; tabbed detailing to Nos 57 and 59. Piended single storey, 2-bay rectangular-plan random rubble outbuilding at rear; tooled long and short yellow rubble sandstone dressings.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION NO 55: projecting stair tower off-set to left of centre comprising single windows at ground and 1st floors, attic window off-set to right of centre; boarded timber door at ground in re-entrant angle facing N, armorial panel above, single attic window beneath eaves; single window in re-entrant angle facing S at 1st floor. Small square opening at ground in bay to outer left; single window at 1st floor in bay to right. Bipartite window at 1st floor off-set to right of stair tower comprising smaller window to right; regularly fenestrated in at all floors in remaining bays. NOS 57 AND 59: 2-leaf boarded timber (carriage) door set in segmental-arched surround at ground in bay to outer left; single window off-set to right at 1st floor; boarded timber opening at 1st floor in bay to outer right.

Predominantly 8- and 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Graded grey slate bell-cast roof; crowstepped skews (dated 1681). Corniced apex stacks to N and S; coped and corniced apex stack to W; various circular cans.

INTERIOR: converted for office use. 18th century panelling; plain plaster cornice-work; ornately carved Welsh overmantle in upper office comprising stylised figures, foliate detailing, foliate frieze.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION REAR OUTBUILDING: boarded timber door at ground off-set to left of centre; single window (originally a door) off-set to right. Graded grey slate piend.