Belladrum Steading

The Belladrum Steading is an early 19th century farm steading, with later 19th century alterations and additions. It is constructed from mixed pink and grey coursed rubble, with dressings in tooled ashlar sandstone. The south frontage is long, largely two-storey, and arranged symmetrically over eleven bays. A central tower is a prominent feature, with single bays flanking it stepped forward from the main elevation. A hoodmoulded arched pend is at the base of the tower, and it is characterised by decorative mock arrow slits, a castellated parapet, and housings for a clock face on both the north and south sides. The first floor of the tower’s inner south face is tripartite, with set flight holes within the tripartites on the second floor. The flanking four bays are slightly lower and feature small loft vents or windows in the first floor. The end bays are more advanced, incorporating carriage houses. To the west of the centre block are three-bay stables, which include stalls and a loose box. The windows have 12-pane glazing. The building has slate roofs, with decorative brattishing along the ridge of the steeply pitched tower roof. In the early 19th century, James Fraser of Belladrum is recorded to have “erected ... a farm steading of ... magnificence”.