Morland, Long Hill, Skelmorlie

Morland is a substantial, asymmetrical, three-storey house dating from 1872, with additions made in 1874 and 1893 by Honeyman and Keppie. It was originally built for Professor Thomson. The house is constructed of red sandstone with polished dressings. The original 1862 section has an L-plan shape, with projecting canted bays on the south and west facades. Second-floor windows are positioned to break the eaves line, and some have pedimented heads bearing Thomson's initials. A second-floor oriel has been added to the right side of the south facade, and a corbelled oriel is situated in the re-entrant angle on the west facade. A ground-floor arcaded loggia is incorporated into the southern bay. Roofs over the projections are facetted. Additions to the north of the original building were made in 1874. A large elliptical block, linked to the west front at its north end, extends east to form a north range. Features include cill bands, string courses, aediculed windows at the first and second floors on the north and south sides, and a corbelled turret at the second floor which screens the join with the original building. A new entrance, dated 1893, is located at the south-east in a projecting, single-storey drum with a conical roof, the interior being five-sided. The entrance features a Roman Doric columned doorpiece with Jacobean detailing, obelisks, and strapwork. The north and east ranges are simpler in design. Windows are mainly plate-glass sashes, except on the ground floor, where an eight-pane pattern is used. The roofs are slated and platformed, with some featuring decorative iron brattishing and finials. The house was later sub-divided to create five flats. The building was extended in 1874-5 by Laurence Robertson at a cost of £4,300 and again in 1893 for £2,571.