Hensol House

Robert Lugar, architect; 1822. Built for John Cunningham of

Lainshaw, Ayr. 2-storey and attic house with principal rooms

in square plan block to E with angle turrets. Much lower

L-shaped service wing to W. The house survives largely intact

the only major external alteration is the removal of S front

porch replaced circa 1960 by granite, timber and glass

conservatory. Porch re-erected to N front to form new main

entrance into old service quarters.

Rock-faced granite with polished inner faces to window

margins, hoodmoulds.

MAIN BLOCK: square plan with 3-storey ogee roofed square

turrets to angles.

S ELEVATION: 3-bay with boldly advanced gabled centre bay.

Modern projecting conservatory; granite base, timber and

glass with slate roof. Above, canted corbelled oriel with

gable over. Conservatory flanked by tripartites at ground,

single light above.

E ELEVATION: 2 asymmetrical gabled bays. That to left shallow

advanced with tripartite to ground, single light above. To

right, 2 single lights to ground, corbelled oriel above

(Lugar's drawing shows ornamental parapet to oriel never

executed).

N ELEVATION: 3-bay with centre bay recessed, outer bays

gabled, that to right with tripartite to ground, otherwise

all single tight windows, those to right 1st with replaced

4-pane glazing.

Angle turrets with lead ogee roofs, slit windows with diamond

pane glazing.

T-plan service wing lower 2-storey with pedimented dormers,

W wing taller and gabled.

To S 5-bay elevation with circa 1919 single-storey extension

to inner 3 bays; bipartites flanking tripartite, deep plain

parapet, flat roof.

Variety of glazing patterns throughout house. Original design

mullioned and transomed with 2, 4 or 6-pane glazing, some

12-pane or 4-pane sash and case. Servants wing with mullioned

and transomed windows with diamond-pane glazing, some with

lower portions of plate glass. Slate roofs, tall individual

granite stacks often in groups of 3 or 4 give distinctive

roofline.

INTERIOR: largely unaltered. Gothic hallway with 4-centre

rib-vaulted ceiling. Doors, shutters, cornices etc mostly

original to Lugar.