Royal Findhorn Yacht Club, Findhorn House, Harbour, Findhorn

Royal Findhorn Yacht Club, Findhorn House, Harbour, Findhorn

A multi-phase building of later 18th century origin with later alterations and additions spanning the 19th and 20th centuries, now serving as an extensive yacht club with private flats. The property overlooks Findhorn Harbour on ground that falls away to the southwest.

The main 18th century section is a 3-storey house of irregular 6-bay plan, constructed in rubble with tooled ashlar margins. It features paired 2-bay gables facing the harbour, with an irregular southwest elevation that includes a single storey outshot to the left with blocking course, an off-centre oriel window at first floor level, second floor windows set close to the eaves, and a pair of pedimented windows breaking the wallhead to the right. The northeast elevation displays the pair of 2-storey, 2-bay gables with the left gable containing blocked openings and a full-height brick stack with chamfered ashlar string courses, whilst the right gable has an entrance to the left and a basement window to the right.

A further 19th century 2-storey section with attic breaking the wallhead was added to the northwest, roughly 3-bay in plan, with an earlier block joined to the rear. This section has a roughly symmetrical elevation to the southwest featuring pedimented and finialed windows breaking the wallhead, first floor windows to the returns, and a 2-storey gabled block to the left set back with a bipartite opening. A raised section fronts this elevation to form a veranda. A single storey gable to the outer right of the paired gables is linked to this 19th century section by a stepped wallhead. These paired gable and single storey gabled blocks, oriented with gable ends facing the harbour, are typical of later 18th and early 19th century seatown design, and are depicted on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map. The 2nd edition illustrates that these separate wings have been linked, with the 3-storey block and 2-storey gabled section subsequently added.

Around 1965, a single storey glazed sun parlour running the full width of the paired gables was constructed, incorporating a yacht racing judges' box at the southeast.

The buildings are roofed with pitched, grey slate with straight ashlar skews. End and ridge stacks include some with moulded 18th century copes and circular clay cans; a substantial additional brick gable stack stands at the east. Roof heights vary, all slated. Some iron rainwater goods are evident.

Windows throughout are predominantly 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows.

The interior retains significant decoration, particularly in principal rooms featuring an intricate classical plasterwork scheme with well-detailed mantelpieces. Panelled timber doors are present throughout. A ground floor room of the 18th century block now functions as the bar and retains a red marble mantelpiece with carved timber surround, broken-apex pedimented doorpieces with foliage pattern to the frieze, a well-detailed cornice with foliage pattern set below acanthus leaves, an oval plaster ceiling rose, and timber window shutters. Later subdivision has created private flats on the upper floors.

Tall rubble boundary walls with chamfered ashlar copes enclose a yard to the southeast.

The property's multi-phase development reflects its origins as vernacular fisherman's cottages. Its prominent position overlooking the harbour, particularly the roughly symmetrical elevation facing the harbour and its well-detailed 18th century interior decoration, indicate a property of some prominence and status within the village. The 19th century interiors are notably well-detailed.

Findhorn was the principal seaport of Moray in the 17th century and one of only two natural ports along the Moray Firth shore, with regular trading vessels sailing to all parts of the North Sea and as far as the Baltic Ports. Changes to the entrance to Findhorn Bay and the increasing size of trading vessels led to a decline in trade during the 19th century, when fishing became the predominant activity. The arrival of the railway in 1860 enabled the village to develop as a holiday resort with marine leisure facilities.

Competitive sailing commenced in the 1920s with annual regattas held. Findhorn Yacht Club was founded in 1929 by James Chadwick, the first Commodore, and other dinghy sailors. Chadwick's home—this building—was used as the club's meeting place and continues to serve as its clubhouse. The history of yacht clubs and sailing as a competitive sport originated in Ireland in the mid 18th century, gathered pace in Scotland throughout the 19th century, and was flourishing by the early 20th century. Scotland remains world renowned for its waters, with a wealth of coastal inlets, firths, fresh and saltwater lochs, rivers and canals that appeal to both competitive and recreational sailors.