Knockando House

Knockando House is a laird’s house dating from 1732 with substantial additions made in 1851 by A and W Reid, and further additions in 1887. The house is situated facing south and comprises a two-storey and attic, five-bay main block with lower flanking wings that create a shallow U-plan. The front elevation is of tooled, squared grey granite with ashlar granite dressings. The flanks and rear are of harl pointed granite rubble.

The central bay of the main house is slightly advanced and features a pediment with rusticated quoins and a corniced, lugged and moulded doorpiece. A round-headed, keystoned window sits above the doorway, and the pediment incorporates a Grant coat of arms bearing the inscription 'LUD. GRANT', flanked by terminal and apex pineapple finials. Ground floor windows have moulded surrounds dating to 1732, while the first floor features a pair of 19th-century tripartite windows flanking the centre bay. A pair of small gabled dormers are positioned above. Rusticated granite quoins define the angles, with moulded detailing to the base course and eaves cornice.

To the west, a single-storey and attic, three-bay block projects and forms one arm of a courtyard, linked to the main house by a curved single-storey quadrant corridor. An eastern wing of similar proportions has later enlarged dormers, and the quadrant area has been infilled with a two-storey extension. Coped end stacks with original moulded copes are present on the main house, with similar, remodelled stacks on the flanking wings. Further two-storey and attic wings project at the rear, linked by a single-storey lean-to.

The windows are a mix of two- and 12-pane glazing, and the roofs are covered with local graded slate.

The interior was largely remodelled in 1887, featuring a centre stairwell with slender turned balusters, which is similar to that found in other Castle Grant estate houses from the mid-18th century.

Knockando House was built by Ludovic Grant of Castle Grant. It is a fine example of masonry work using hard, local granite.