Denovan House

Denovan House is a two-storey villa with basement, displaying a complex building sequence. At its core lies a mid to late 18th century Georgian villa, possibly constructed in two phases, which was substantially recast in 1843-45 in the Jacobethan style associated with Burn and Bryce. This remodelling included an entirely new south front and partial interior remodelling. Large additions were made to the rear (north) in 1911.

The 1840s elevations are rendered in cream polished ashlar with channelled rustication at ground floor level, long and short rusticated quoins, plinth and basecourse. A cornice separates the ground and first floors, with a plain frieze swept to a dentilled cornice above. Windows are surmounted by vigorously moulded consoles set within the frieze. Advanced bays feature pedimented or blocking-course treatments, while plain parapets are used elsewhere. The side elevations (east and west) of the 1840s period are constructed in finely tooled squared sandstone with ashlar dressings. Windows are architraved, appearing either singly or as tripartite sets. Projecting window bays are topped with openwork strapwork parapets. Timber sash and case windows of the 1840s have each sash divided horizontally into two panes. Roofs are shallow-pitched and slated, with grouped square-shafted ashlar chimney stacks.

The south (entrance) elevation comprises three bays. A full-height pedimented projecting bay occupies the left side, a two-window set-back centre is overlaid to the left with an entrance porch, and an advanced full-height rectangular bay projects to the right. The porch features a lugged and curved baroque-style architraved doorpiece with moulded keystone and openwork parapet. An ashlar seat is set within the porch to the left.

Georgian elevations are visible only to the left of the west side elevation and to the right of the rear (north) elevation. Large harled additions of 1911 mask the rear elevation to the left.

A conservatory of circa later 19th century date is attached to the right of the south front at the east gable. Built over the site of a former side wing, it is constructed of timber and cast-iron with mullioned windows featuring leaded upper lights. A pitched roof incorporates a pitched-roofed clerestory with cast-iron cresting at the ridge and an apex finial to the southwest gable.

The interior contains three unaltered principal rooms at ground floor level. To the east is a drawing room with Caroline-style interior scheme, featuring moulded door architraves with curved and corniced Caroline-style over-doors. Doors and cupboard doors are panelled below with glazed portions above the dado displaying geometrical designs. A baroque marble chimneypiece is supported by ionic fluted column stiles with canted volutes, pulvinated frieze, and dentilled and corniced entablature. Relief carvings adorn the slip, with a central tablet bearing high-relief mask carving and floral swags flanking. The original brass grate and a gilt rococo mirror overmantel (painted) remain in place. The ceiling features cornice and gilt plasterwork border, and the room is lit by four original pendant lights. Nineteenth-century curtains with pelments hang at the windows.

To the west are the billiard and dining rooms, both remodelled during the 1840s with very elaborate Jacobetian-style interior schemes. The dining room features an extremely elaborate Jacobethan strapwork cornice and vigorously moulded plasterwork ceiling. Its chimneypiece dates circa 1800 but was recast in the 1840s with large consoles and mouldings in Jacobethan manner. The original circa 1800 brass grate remains. Nineteenth-century curtains with pelmets are displayed, and the scheme features a black and gold paint treatment. The billiard room is similar, with strapwork plasterwork cornice and minor alterations.

The stair hall was remodelled in the 1840s with half-height wainscot, panelled two-leaf doors, architraves and Caroline-style overdoors topped by a Jacobethan-style plasterwork ceiling. A timber staircase features six-light stained glass windows at the half-landing. A chimneypiece was removed to the steading in 1992. A large cast-iron safe is located in the modernised kitchen adjacent to the dining room.

First-floor bedrooms are simpler in character, with proportions and joinery revealing two different periods. The 1840s remodelling is largely evident in the western rooms, with the eastern Georgian rooms showing reduced floor levels and ceiling heights. A Georgian kitchen in the basement to the east contains ex situ pieces of Georgian grates.

A pair of short cream polished ashlar gatepiers of 1843-45 date mark the entrance to the house. Square-plan with arched recessed planes to each elevation, the arches feature keyblocks at their apices and are topped with rounded corniced caps.

The estate originally belonged to James Johnstone of Denovan until Mr James Graham Adam acquired a portion, including a bleachfield, and altered and greatly extended the house in 1843-45. The Mitchells of Carron Iron Company also resided here at one time. Mid-19th century stables and offices to the north have since been altered.

A plan (RHP 1497A) dated circa 1755-68 depicts the house at the centre of radiating formal avenues aligned to each cardinal point and diagonally as saltire cross formation, with a bleachfield to the east. A further plan (RHP 48933) of part of the Denovan estate, as proposed to be entailed in 1797 and traced in 1859, also documents the property.