Kennels, Lochmore Lodge

Kennels, Lochmore Lodge

This is a composite shooting lodge in a remote lochside setting, designed by William Leslie and Robert Brown in 1851-52 and remodelled by Andrew Maitland in 1867-72, with some later 20th century alterations.

The principal building is a single-storey and attic structure of seven bays with multiple gables. It is built of pale pink granite rubble with ashlar dressings and features overhanging bracketed eaves. The north-east principal elevation displays an advanced twin gable to the left with a canted window to the outer left and main entrance flanked by margin lights. A pair of canted windows flanks the central bay, with gablet dormers breaking the eaves above. A single crow-stepped dormer sits to the right. An advanced, full-height canted tower with dormer occupies the north corner angle, topped with a polygonal slate cap and weathervane finial. An engaged tower with swept-roof polygonal cap returns to the south-east elevation at the east corner angle. The north-west elevation has a further canted window and pair of crow-stepped dormers. Louvred timber ridge vents serve the kitchen range to the rear.

Windows are predominantly timber sash and case with 2 and 4-pane glazing patterns. The roof is of grey slate with timber bargeboards. Ridge and end stacks feature octagonal clay cans. Rainwater goods are cast iron.

Adjoining to the south-east is a former bothy or gardener's cottage, single-storey and attic with three bays, built of granite rubble and partly harled. A tall, shouldered wallhead stack to the centre is flanked by pointed-arch windowed dormers. A tri-partite window sits to the ground floor of the north gable. A lean-to conservatory infill occupies the former courtyard.

The interior of the main lodge comprises an entrance hall with moulded timber door surrounds, decorative silver latch plates, and black and white floor tiles. A double-length reception and dining room occupies the centre front, featuring timber panelling with a pair of carved timber chimneypieces. A public room to the left has a corner fireplace, and a further public room to the far left features half-height moulded timber panelling. A flagstoned hall lies to the rear. Bedrooms predominantly have simple timber chimneypieces. Bathrooms contain high-quality sanitary ware. A row of stone-lined barrel-vaulted stores is built into the sloping ground to the south-west.

A coped retaining wall with steps down to mature landscaped gardens fronts the north-east elevation. A wrought-iron garden gate sits to the right.

Two adjoining detached cottages with crowstep gables are located to the south-west of the lodge, each with a forestair to the east gable and half-piend outshot to the west gable, plus a later outshot to the rear. They have timber sash and case windows and slate roofing.

An octagonal game larder circa 1851 stands on the east drive, built of pink granite rubble with louvred openings and topped with a polygonal cap with cast-iron finial. Lower pitched and piend-roofed components sit to the south-west, with a tall single stack bearing an octagonal clay can. The interior contains a substantial timber roof structure with timber panelling to the upper wall section.

Square-plan kennels dated circa 1851 are located at the roadside, built of white-painted rubble with two runs to the east featuring coped walls and slender iron railings. A mid-19th century single-storey, three-bay store or former boathouse sits on lower ground to the west of the kennels, with a 2-leaf door to the gable end and single end-stack.

A larger rectangular-plan gabled boathouse dated circa 1870 stands at the lochside to the east of the kennels. It is built of rubble with corbelled skews and three narrow embrasures to the west gable, with later timber sliding doors to the north elevation and slate roof.