Drambuie Farm

Drambuie Farm

A south-facing linear farmstead dating from 1736, rebuilt in 1843, with 20th century additions. The complex comprises several distinct elements arranged at right angles to the road.

The principal components are: a 2-storey, 2-bay house with crowstepped gables to the left; a central single-storey range with attic and sawtooth skews, featuring a later glazed porch (2000) and a reset stone tablet inscribed "Built by Hugh Patrick in 1736, rebuilt by James Patrick in 1843"; a single-storey former byre with hayloft to the right, also with sawtooth skews and a blocked opening to the upper gable; a circa 1930 single-storey range set at right angles to the rear of the byre; and a rubble-built range dating to circa 1880, also at right angles to the main complex, with a truncated roof, two cart openings to the front, blocked slit vents, and a reset marriage lintel inscribed "JP IS 1723" to the rear.

The buildings are harled in modern render (later 20th century), replacing earlier harl, with painted dressed margins to the main group. Roofing comprises greyish-blue slates laid in diminishing courses, with stone ridges to the centre range and byre. Gable stacks feature a variety of clay cans. The altered rubble range has a corrugated-iron roof. Windows are timber sash and case with plate glass. Cast-iron rainwater goods are present throughout.

The rear (north) elevation shows a brick-built single-storey four-bay lean-to against the central range; a 19th century piend-roofed advanced wing to the right (behind the 2-storey crowstepped house) with a canted bay window; and a three-bay brick range at right angles to the left with a blocked opening to the gable end.

The interior is largely of late 19th and 20th century date. The ground floor of the 1736 house retains a late 19th century timber chimneypiece with red tiled slips and copper hood, and a glazed timber press cupboard to the left. To the rear is another late 19th century timber chimneypiece with cast-iron insert, accompanied by dado, picture rail and cornice.

The lands of Drambuie have a documented history extending to 1663, when Hugh, Earl of Eglinton feued them to four individuals: Robert Burns (miller at Hobkin Mill), Hugh Kerr of Crummock, Robert Patrick of Waterside, and Thomas Glen. John Patrick, youngest son of Robert Patrick, inherited his portion in the late 17th century. His son Robert inherited in 1710, and Robert's younger brother Hugh acquired the lands in 1730. Captain Patrick inherited in 1802, and the lands passed through the Patrick family until at least the mid-19th century. The New Statistical Account of 1839 records that "Drumbowie" remained in the ownership of Captain James Patrick.

The crowstepped house would originally have been thatched. The byre at right angles to the 2-storey house once had crowstepped gables, now removed in the mid-20th century. This range does not appear on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858 but is shown on the second edition of 1897. The marriage lintel dated 1723 incorporated into the rubble range must derive from an earlier, now-demolished building; the initials JP and IS most likely refer to John Patrick and his wife.

Drumbuie Farm and the adjacent Drumbuie House, together with associated outbuildings, form an important and rare group of early vernacular buildings in Beith parish. Although inevitable alterations have occurred, these are largely evolutionary in character and do not significantly compromise the inherent character of the complex.