Linplum House

Linplum House is a large, two-story Baronial style house, dated 1882 and built by Shiells and Thomson. It is constructed from squared and snecked sandstone with ashlar dressings to the first floor, and features a cornice-like gutter at the eaves.

The north (entrance) elevation is dominated by a three-stage, off-set, rounded tower at the center. This tower contains a round arched doorway flanked by lights, each with roll-moulded arrises. The doorway itself is set within an advanced, gabled porch featuring ornate foliage to the composite capitals and a gable bearing a heraldic shield with an inscription above the left light. Above the doorway is an initialled panel to the left of the upper window, bearing the entwined initials “REB”. A gabled bay flanks the tower to the right, possessing a rounded angle to the left and bipartite windows at both floors, with a gablehead sculpted with an acorn panel. A further heraldic panel is located at ground level to the left of the window. A round, two-stage angle tower is situated at the right-hand side, with three tall windows on each floor. Positioned to the left of the center tower are slightly lower and recessed bays, with a canted window at ground level and two windows on the first floor, each adorned with ornately carved pediments. A square, corbelled angle turret is set into the outer left angle.

The west elevation features a full-height, canted window off-center to the left, corbelled to the gablehead with a carved panel. A slightly recessed bay sits to the right of the center, with two tall ground floor windows and one first floor window featuring a Venetian-style pediment. An advanced, gabled outer bay, complete with a full-height, piend-roofed canted window, is on the right side.

The south elevation, while simpler, incorporates details from both the north and west elevations. A single-story, single-bay service building is positioned to the outer right.

The east elevation forms a shallow service court created by the advanced outer bays, distinguished by lower eaves and two corbelled angle turrets to the advanced right-hand bays.

The house has sash and case windows with plate glass glazing, topped by slate roofs with fish-scales to the conical tower roofs. Lead finials adorn the towers and turrets. A decorative weathervane is located on the entrance tower. Decorative stone finials are present on the window pediments and crowstepped gables.

The interior retains much of its original fine detailing, including decorative geometric tiling in the hall, a simple Jacobean staircase, ornate plaster cornices, and Jacobean ceilings. Dark marble chimneypieces are also present, and the overall style is a later essay in the Baronial style adorned with stone carving. The house was reportedly commissioned by an eminent tree expert, who thoughtfully planted the surrounding area with a diverse range of tree specimens.