Aberlour House

Aberlour House is a large mansion dating from 1838-9, with substantial additions and alterations made throughout the 19th century. Initially designed by William Robertson, it was significantly expanded between 1854 and 1868 by A and W Reid, and further modified in 1885-6 by Dick Peddie and Kinnear. A drawing room addition, decorated by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1892-3, remains influential in the library, although his other interior designs are largely lost.

The house presents a stark, north-facing classical design with two storeys and attic ranges extending to the rear. It is constructed of polished and tooled ashlar throughout. The original five-bay house features shallow advanced outer bays, with a two-tier, tetrastyle portico incorporating a porte cochere. The lower tier of the portico projects and is supported by fluted Greek Doric columns, decorated with an Empire garland frieze. The porte cochere likely dates from around 1855, though originally designed by William Robertson.

A two-storey, three-bay drawing room wing extends eastward, forming a continuous frontage. A rectangular bay window from 1854 illuminates the library (formerly the dining room) on the west side, while a similar window, reused from the original drawing room, lights the new drawing room on the east. Some ground floor windows are framed with corniced and lugged architraves. A two-bay wing, set back on the west, retains its original form, featuring an outer window framed by paired pilasters and engaged columns that support an entablature and corniced wallhead.

Extensive infilling of the original rear court occurred between 1856 and 1868. The east return elevation includes dormers, windows, and a hooded, canopied entrance added in 1886. The building has multi-pane glazing, a corniced wallhead, corniced stacks, and shallow piended and gabled slate roofs.

Flanking the house to the east and west are basket-headed arches from 1838-9, leading to the former stable court. These arches are constructed of polished ashlar and feature paired pilasters clasping the north and south facets, adorned with paired Empire garlands, anthemions, and acroteria on the pediments. The arches are linked to the main house by low, coped, tooled ashlar quadrant walls.

The interior features an entrance hall, originally with doorways to the drawing room (left) and dining room (right), which opens through a columned screen to a stairhall rising two storeys. The imperial staircase has mid-19th century cast- and wrought-iron balusters linked to fluted Ionic cast-iron newels. The ceiling is coffered with gilded detailing and gilded floreated and foliated bosses, with a chequered marble floor installed in 1892-3.

The library, formerly the dining room, was remodelled by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1892-3, incorporating bookcases (some with glazed fronts), a marble chimneypiece with decorative medallions, a coffered ceiling, and a decorative frieze. The former drawing room (now a children's common room) retains a carved red marble chimneypiece dating from 1837. The headmaster’s study has a chimneypiece from 1892-3 with marble slips.

A terrace, constructed in 1885, fronts the mansion, featuring a balustrade and flights of steps leading to a lower lawn, now used as a playing field.