Balmory Hall, Ascog, Bute

Dated 1861. Near-symmetrical 2-storey with basement, 4-bay classically-detailed house grouped 1-1-2 with full-height 5-light bow in penultimate bay to outer right; single bay recessed to outer left; corrugated iron lean-to addition beyond; side entrance (porte-cochere). Yellow sandstone ashlar. Raised band course at principal floor; banded basement rustication; corniced cill courses; corbelled, corniced eaves; regularly disposed anthemion parapet detailing. Raised, ashlar quoins; pilastered, corniced windows at ground; shouldered-arched surrounds at 1st floor; pilastered mullions at both floors in bowed bay.

E (GARDEN) MAIN ELEVATION: full-height bow in penultimate bay to outer right; boarded openings at basement; decorative cast-iron, bowed balcony dividing ground and 1st floors (consoled brackets); armorial panels set in frieze beneath corbelled cornice (panel dated "1861" outer right). Bipartite windows at ground and 1st floors in bay to outer right; single windows at all floors in bays to left of centre; lean-to addition recessed to outer left.

N (ENTRANCE) SIDE ELEVATION: 3-bay with single storey, 2-bay wing slightly recessed to outer right. Steps to 2-leaf timber panelled door at ground in bay to outer right of main block; plate-glass fanlight; pilastered, round-arched surround; projecting balustraded porte-cochere comprising square-plan columns, consoled cornice, decorative frieze detailing, stencilled, corniced parapet; flanking tripartite side-lights; bipartite window aligned at 1st floor. Single windows at both floors in bays at centre and outer left; single storey wing to outer right comprising single window to right of entrance, bipartite window in slightly projecting bay to outer right.

Predominantly 2-pane timber sash and case windows. Graded grey slate roof; some decorative cast-iron rainwater goods. Corniced wallhead stacks (some triple banded, panelled, square-plan flues); octagonal cans.

INTERIOR: relatively intact. Large ground floor reception rooms with Adamesque detailing. Timber panelled doors; architraved, corniced door-surrounds; boarded timber floors; timber skirting boards. Intricate plaster cornices; ceiling roses. Square- and circular-plan columns dividing rooms; some fireplaces; timber panelled shutters in place; large, decorative mirrors. Columnar hall with decorative cast-iron balustraded main stair (inserted lift shaft in place 1996). Upper floors not seen.

BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATEPIERS: coped, curved stugged sandstone walls flanking entrance; square-plan piers; pyramidal caps; gates missing.