Argrennan House

Argrennan House is a building with an earlier 18th-century core, significantly extended in 1818, and is now largely incorporated as a rear wing of that later classical structure, likely designed by Gillespie Graham.

The original 18th-century house is a two-storey and basement rectangular building facing west. The eastern elevation remains largely original; the west elevation is significantly obscured by the stair tower of the later house. It is constructed of rubble with polished granite margins, granite quoins, rusticated at the northwest angle. The eastern elevation features a central projecting bow with Venetian windows to the basement and ground floors, and a tripartite window to the first floor. All other windows are single-light, sash and case with 12-pane glazing. A two-bay north flank is also present. The building has a moulded eaves cornice, a conical slate roof over the bow, a piended slate roof to the main section, and a pair of coped axial granite stacks. A good cast-iron balcony is attached to the bow.

The 1818 house is two storeys, attics, and basement, and is constructed of squared whinstone with polished sandstone dressings and raised angle margins. It has a long, seven-bay frontage with a wide, pedimented central entrance bay, and shallow advanced central and end bays. A pair of steps lead to a paired Tuscan columned porch with a balustraded parapet. The doorcase is pilastered with sidelights, and features double-leaf doors with a good semi-circular astragalled fanlight. The first-floor windows are single-light, with flanking false sidelights. All windows are single-light, aarchitraved, with consoled cornices to the ground floor windows. They are sash and case with 12-pane glazing. A band course is positioned over the basement, and a cill course runs to the ground and first floors. The building has a moulded eaves cornice, a plain parapet, a pediment over the central bay, piended slate roofs, a pair of central stacks, and wallhead stacks to the rear, all corniced.

The east flank features a full-width three-light bow, with a cast-iron balcony on the ground floor. A three-bay west flank is also present. The north elevation has a full-height square stair bay in the centre with a round-headed window; the glass has been replaced.

The interior of the 18th-century house is largely original and well-preserved, with original plasterwork and cornices, marble and carved chimneypieces. The basement contains groin-vaulted old kitchens. The 1818 house retains its original plasterwork and woodwork, including a good staircase with elegant cast-iron balusters, and a landing with a fluted Doric screen.