Estate Office, Melsetter House, Hoy

Late 18th/early 19th century, remodelled 1898-1900 by W R Lethaby. Single storey and attic and 2-storey; rectangular-plan; with crowstepped gables and distinctive chimney stacks with deep coping (stepped in slightly/tapered) above band course and prominent ashlar porch in shape of upturned boat to principal (S) elevation. Reconstruction of former factor's house in Arts and Crafts manner; comprising main 3-bay single storey and attic section to E and single bay 2-storey section to W. Harled coursed rubble with ashlar dressings. No visible dressings to window openings.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: entrance in between 1st and 2nd bays to left of main single storey and attic section; rectangular-plan sandstone ashlar porch in shape of cross section of upturned boat with hull as roof and keel as roll-moulding at apex; flanking stone benches inside; part-glazed panelled timber door set back. Window to each floor to flanking bays and that to outer right; those to attic low and wide apart from narrow one to outer right; that to left of ground floor small and narrow. Window to each floor to 2-storey bay to left. Side of single storey lean-to adjoins to outer left.

N ELEVATION: 2 windows to ground floor of main single storey and attic section; narrow attic window above that to right. Window to each floor to 2-storey and attic bay to right. Side of single storey lean-to adjoins to outer right; 2 closely spaced square 4-light vents.

E ELEVATION: entrance to left; flanking shallow stone cheeks supporting inclined stone canopy roll-moulded at edge; 3-panel timber door set back. Attic window to right of gable.

W ELEVATION: single storey lean-to projects across width of gable end of 2-storey section; outer flanking entrances with part-glazed panelled timber doors; window to right of that to left.

Mainly 12-pane timber sash and case windows; 8-pane casements to low wide attic windows. Stone slate roof. Ridge stack (with deep coping stepped in slightly above band course) to main section; gablehead stack (with deep coping tapered towards apex above band course) to N side; round cans.

INTERIOR: not inspected (2000).

BOUNDARY WALL: rubble wall with rounded rubble coping encloses triangular-shaped plot to N. Earlier coursed rubble OUTBUILDING at SW corner (with 2 small additions with single pitch roofs) forms W side of stone flagged yard; coursed rubble walls to N and S adjoin house to E. GATEPIERS TO W: pair of coursed stugged sandstone rubble gatepiers adjoin short section of wall to S of outbuilding; framing entrance to row of cottages aligned E/W to E of entrance to courtyard of Melsetter House; circular plan with conical coping surmounted by ball finials.