Cullen House

Cullen House is a substantial mansion with a complex history, comprising a tower house dating back to 1602, built on an earlier site, and significant additions and alterations from the late 17th, early and mid 18th, and mid 19th centuries (including work by David Bryce in 1858-9). It was subsequently divided into 13 separate residential units in 1982-4 by architect Douglas Forrest. The South and West wings were damaged by fire in June 1987 and are currently undergoing restoration.

The building’s layout is an extended Z-plan, with two to four storeys. The construction is of rubble, with some harling, and features tooled and ashlar dressings, margins, and crowsteps to gables. The original tower house, at the Southeast angle, has a long wing extending to the West, revealing fabric from before 1602. The later wing received a new South elevation with large windows designed by David Bryce. The North-facing elevation, overlooking a courtyard, retains 17th-century details and earlier fabric, with some regularisation of the window openings.

The original entrance to the tower, located at a tight angle on the South side of the North-South range, features a roll-moulded door, now blocked and replaced with a window, and an elaborate doorpiece with stylised, waisted pilasters and heraldic medallions. Diminutive angle turrets are situated near the wallhead. A three-storey range, added in 1602, features a substantial inserted doorpiece by Bryce, modelled on the earlier design but incorporating large rampant lions. Adjacent to this is a rectangular block built between 1711 and 1714, partly remodelled by Bryce. Further additions of the same date are located to the West of the West wing, also partly remodelled in 1858.

The East-facing range has a nearly symmetrical main elevation. It includes a square tower of 1668 with some reworking, recessed bays of 1602 origin, and a North tower (1711-14) with ogee-roofed angle turrets and crenellations.

The windows are a mix of shapes, primarily sash and case with small panes, except for the large plate glass windows inserted by Bryce. Numerous dormers break the wallhead, featuring elaborate dormerheads. U-plan, two-storey service wings, including former kitchens now divided into cottages and dwellings, are located to the North. These have harled walls and ashlar-margined window and door openings. The building has ridge, end, and wallhead stacks of various dates, topped with slate roofs.

The interior has been divided vertically into individual dwellings, preserving original staircases and public rooms. A mid-18th century wrought-iron balustrade remains on the former main staircase. A panelled entrance hall features a Dutch-tiled fireplace, also dating from the mid-18th century. The mid-18th century kitchen, now converted into a dwelling and architect’s office, has a moulded ceiling cornice.