Aldourie Castle

Predominantly mid 19th Century, with 18th century core incorporating 17th century fragments; house principally enlarged between 1839 and 1862 (see Notes for architects involved) to form picturesque, 2- and 3-storey Baronial mansion house; 1902-3 wing at SE by Robert Lorimer. Principal elevations to NW and SE punctuated by irregular arrangement of oriel windows, drum towers, turrets, crowstepped gables and fenestration. Ochre harled with polished and tooled ashlar margins and dressings.

Entrance porch to SE in projecting gable; decorated with engaged columns, crest, strapwork and ball finials. Blocked corbel tables and rope moulded string courses; angles embellished with drum towers or corbelled bartizans, either round or square. Roofscape with turrets terminating either with circular balustraded wallhead, ogee or conical roofs. Gun-loops, decorative pediments to dormer windows.

2-, 4- and 12-pane glazing to timber sash and case windows. Coped end and ridge stacks; slate roofs; some ridges with decorative cast-iron brattishing.

INTERIOR: mainly reflects 1862 alterations with extensive restoration work undertaken between 2002 and 2010. Vestibule with walls marbled by painter Charles Hesp of York. Drawing room with re-used early 19th century marble chimneypiece. 1902-3 former dining room with coffered plaster ceiling decorated with Tudor roses.