Olrig House

Olrig House is an early mansion dating from around 1830-40, with significant modifications made between 1859-61 by David Bryce, further 19th-century additions and alterations to the rear, incorporating an earlier 18th-century dwelling. The main part of the house, facing northeast, is constructed of tooled ashlar with polished ashlar dressings, while other areas are harled with ashlar dressings.

The front façade is an early 19th-century design with a symmetrical two-storey, three-bay arrangement, accentuated by giant panelled pilasters. A portico, supported by four paired Roman Doric columns and approached by a shallow flight of steps, shelters the central front door. Above the door is a tripartite window with narrow side lights, and a similar tripartite window sits to the left, added around 1859-60. Symmetrical two-window arrangements are found on the ground and first floors of the northwest and southwest gables. A moulded eaves cornice with a blocking course separates the ground and first floors in the outer bays and gables, while corniced end stacks and a piended platform slate roof complete the exterior.

A two-storey, two-bay central rear wing connects to a later rear block. This rear block was originally single-storey but was raised in the later 19th century to create an irregular two-storey, five-bay southwest-facing elevation. A projecting angled porch occupies the extreme right bay, featuring a studded door with decorative hinged fittings similar to those at the Gate Lodge. Gabled bays are positioned near the centre, and a canted oriel window illuminates an upper sitting room (formerly a nursery), alongside another canted angle oriel at the southeast corner.

Throughout the house, windows feature 2 and 4 panes of glass. Corniced end and ridge stacks, kneelers, and prominent skewputts adorn the rear gables, all covered by slate roofs.

The interior exhibits alterations made to the original 1830-40 mansion. A bow-ended room on the ground floor right features late 19th-century Aesthetic Movement panelling and a chimney piece. A circa 1830 plaster cornice with scrolled detailing and a black marble chimney piece are found in the left ground floor sitting room, formerly the dining room. A remodelled mid-to-late 19th-century staircase features a barley-sugar twist balustrade. A circa 1860 cornice adorns the first floor drawing room, along with a chimney piece and anthemion detailing. The southwest portion of the house was remodelled around 1980, and the first floor sitting room (formerly a nursery) boasts a late 19th-century blue and white tiled chimney piece and a pendant panelled ceiling.

A large, walled rear courtyard is accessed at the northwest through a later 19th-century pointed-headed dressed rubble archway. This archway has a stepped central blocking course and flanking pilasters that terminate in tiered ogee pinnacles. A long range of crowstepped, single-storey outbuildings, originally serving as a carriage house, stables, and laundry, stands alongside the courtyard, distinguished by a tall, square brick and rubble chimney associated with the laundry.