Aberlour House

William Robertson, 1838-9, mansion with extensive additions

by A and W Reid, 1854-68. Further alterations by Dick Peddie

and Kinnear, 1885-6. Drawing room addition circa 1892

decorated by Sir Robert Lorimer, 1892-3 who also designed

other interior decorations (surviving only in library).

Austere N facing classical 2-storey mansion with single

storey and attic ranges extending to rear. Polished and tooled

ashlar throughout.

Original 5-bay house with shallow advanced outer bays; 2-tier

pedimented tetrastyle portico, lower tier projecting as porte

cochere supported by fluted Greek Doric columns with Empire

garland frieze (porte cochere circa 1855 but probably

designed by William Robertson).

2-storey, 3-bay drawing room wing extends at E continuous

with frontage.

Rectangular bay window (1854) lights library (former dining

room) at W; similar window lights drawing room at E (re-used

from former drawing room).

Some corniced and lugged architraves to aproned ground floor

windows.

Set back 2-bay wing survives at W with outer window framed by

paired pilasters and paired engaged columns supporting

entablature and corniced wallhead.

Extensive infilling of original rear court between 1856-1868;

E return elevation with dormers, windows and hooded canopied

entrance, 1886.

Multi-pane glazing; corniced wallhead; corniced stacks;

shallow piended and gabled slate roofs.

House flanked E and W by 1838-9 polished ashlar pedimented

basket-headed arches leading to former stable court. Paired

pilasters clasp N and S facets under paired Empire garlands;

anthemion and acroteria decorate pediment. Arches linked to

house by low coped tooled ashlar quadrant walls.

INTERIOR: entrance hall, formerly with doorways to drawing

room (left) and dining room (right), opens through columned

screen to stairhall rising 2 storeys; imperial staircase with

mid 19th century cast-and wrought-iron balusters linked to

fluted Ionic cast-iron newels. Coffered ceiling with gilded

detailing and gilded floreated and foliated bosses. Chequered

marble floor (1892-3).

LIBRARY (FORMER DINING ROOM): re-modelled as library by Sir

Robert Lorimer, 1892-3, including bookcases, some with glazed

fronts; also marble chimneypiece with decorative medallions;

coffered ceiling and decorative frieze. 1837 former drawing

room (now children's common room): carved red marble

chimneypiece.

HEADMASTER'S STUDY; 1892-3 chimneypiece with marble slips.

TERRACE: (1885): mansion fronted by balustrade and flights of

steps descending to lower lawn (now playing field).