Auchinlee, High Askomil

Auchinlee, High Askomil

A large asymmetrically composed Italianate villa of the later 19th century, now in use as a rest home. The main structure consists of a 2-storey rectangular block with an attic storey, a distinctive 3-stage square tower positioned at the south-west corner, a large semicircular bow projecting from the south elevation, a 2-storey service wing to the east, and a modern 2-storey wing beyond.

The walls are constructed of stugged sandstone ashlar with polished arrises and dressings. The rear elevation is harled with raised margins to corners and openings and projecting cills. A bull-faced base course extends to ground floor cill height, with string courses and cill courses at 1st floor level and at the eaves. Ground floor windows feature roll-moulded mullions and transoms, whilst 1st floor windows are plain. Stone ventilators are set into the base course.

The principal south elevation is composed of three widely spaced bays. The tower occupies the left bay and displays channelled quoins with a 2nd floor string course. A single window at ground floor has a roll-moulded surround, whilst the 1st floor window is framed by channelled margins. An arcaded tripartite window at 2nd floor incorporates keystones, with an advanced apron to the centre light and boss decoration at the flanking aprons. The centre bay is dominated by a large semicircular bow containing three bipartite mullioned and transomed windows, separated by plain pilasters at 1st floor level. The right bay features tripartite windows at ground and 1st floors, with the ground floor window slightly advanced and boss decoration in panels above.

The west elevation, which contains the entrance, comprises three bays with the tower occupying the right bay. The 1st bay contains two small windows at ground floor level and a bipartite mullioned and transomed window above. The entrance is centred in the 2nd bay, with a projecting square-columned porch flanked by corresponding pilasters. The doorway is basket-arched and contains a 2-leaf, 8-panel door. The porch features a corniced entablature with a balustraded parapet above. A stone entrance platt and steps provide access. The 1st floor window of this bay matches that in the 1st bay. The tower's west face repeats the fenestration pattern of its south face.

The north (rear) elevation is irregularly fenestrated at ground floor. The left bay contains bipartite windows at ground and 1st floors. The centre of the elevation is dominated by a large 8-light segmentally-arched mullioned and transomed stair window. The right bay is blank at 1st floor level. A modern 2-storey flat-roofed addition has been constructed to the north of the service wing.

The service wing comprises three bays of irregular heights. The 1st bay has a bipartite 1st floor window with a fluted mullion and bracketed cill. The 3rd bay features a bipartite window at ground floor and a tripartite window above. A 2-bay elevation with a bull-faced base course extends to the modern wing, with bipartite and tripartite windows at ground and 1st floors respectively.

All windows throughout are fitted with plate glass timber sash and case windows, with meeting rails obscured by transoms at ground and 1st floor levels. A particularly notable feature is the 8-light mullioned and transomed segmental-arched stair window centring the north wall.

The roofs are covered with green-grey piended slate. The main block, tower, bow and wing all feature bell-cast slates at overhanging timber eaves, bracketed at the south elevation. Lead finials crown the ridges of the main block, with a finial base only remaining at the tower roof apex. Modern flat-roofed, slate-hung dormers have been added to the south and east pitches, containing tripartite and bipartite windows respectively. A modern water tank tower on the north pitch is flat-roofed and slate-hung with flanking segmentally-roofed dormers; the east dormer provides access to a metal escape stair at the north-east corner. Cast-iron downpipes and profiled gutters are throughout, with a single square downpipe with brackets at the east elevation. Two-flue ashlar wallhead stacks with deep copes and round cans piercing the eaves are positioned at the north and east elevations of the main block and the east face of the tower.

The interior contains many original fittings including 5-panel doors, plaster cornices and carved timber chimneypieces. Within the entrance porch, a screen comprises a stained glass inner door and flanking windows framed by fluted pilasters with a cornice above and timber balusters fronting a stained glass rectangular fanlight. Segmental-arched architraved openings branch from the entrance vestibule, one leading to the stair hall. The drawing room is accessed via a 10-panel, 2-leaf timber door. The dining room features a panelled dado with a buffet recess in the north wall flanked by square plaster columns with decorated shafts and capitals; matching columns flank a window in the south wall. The principal staircase is positioned behind a classical screen comprising pedestals surmounted by columns with bases and decorative capitals. The lower shafts are decorated with reliefs of classical figures, whilst corresponding pilasters with fluted upper shafts line the walls. The timber staircase has square balusters and newels with octagonal caps. The stair well has been infilled with a modern timber lift shaft; a stained glass stair window in the north wall depicts the seasons. An upper staircase is located behind a screen of three arcaded arches, with a balustrade featuring turned spindles and newels with ball finials.

The boundary comprises a rendered retaining wall with droved ashlar cope to the rear. A random rubble boundary wall fronts the road with an ashlar cope. Bull-faced gatepiers have bases, chamfered corners and pyramidal caps with large ball finials. A small timber pedestrian gate survives to the left.