Arnsbrae House, Alloa

Arnsbrae House in Alloa was designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1885, with a service court added by Paul Waterhouse in 1890, although only the east side of this addition remains as the rest was demolished in 1963. The entrance front was deepened to create more accommodation while maintaining the original design and reusing original materials, completed by Paul Waterhouse in 1919. The building features Gothic, asymmetrical details and is constructed from red snecked rubble with a slated roof. It is two storeys tall with an attic, and the entrance is located on the southeast side, showcasing a Gothic arched doorpiece. The southwest front has a wide gable with a loggia supported by two semi-elliptical arches on octagonal shafts. There is a chamfered drawing room bay that is corbelled to a square at the first floor, and two stone dormers with one and two lights. The facade is generally treated in very shallow relief, and it has unusual glazing with narrow panel margins. The northwest gable features a canted bay with a very high roof.

Inside, the house retains its original features throughout, including a fine marble chimneypiece from around 1800 that was moved from Mount Melville. The central hall has a staircase that spans two storeys and has an interesting layout. The ground floor includes Tudor-style panelling and a corner chimneypiece with a rich frieze. Other interior spaces are relatively plain, though several chimneypieces display excellent contemporary tiles. The drawing room is more elaborate, featuring an early Renaissance style with a slightly French treatment and semi-elliptical arches at the bay windowed section.