Sandhill House, South Wood Road

Sandhill House, South Wood Road

Sandhill House is a mansion dating from the later 19th century with early 20th century additions. It is a substantial 2-storey structure with attic, comprising six bays arranged on a basic square plan with projecting bays to the northeast, southeast and southwest elevations. A service wing extends to the northwest. The building is constructed in red brick with sandstone dressings, including string courses, cill courses at the first floor, and long and short quoins. The roof is piended with deep eaves and tall banded and stepped chimney stacks in English neo-Tudor style. Half-timbering appears on some gables.

The fenestration is fairly regular and arranged in bays, predominantly comprising bipartite and tripartite windows with sandstone mullions. Some ground floor windows have transoms, and cat-slide dormers light the attic. A conservatory of later date is attached to the left bay of the southwest elevation.

The southeast elevation serves as the principal entrance front and is six bays in length, divided into two distinct halves. A timber-boarded front door, set slightly recessed to the centre of the right-hand section, is surrounded by a roll-moulded depressed arch and reached by five steps. The door surround is carved with leeks and thistles at the corners, with the Robertson family coat-of-arms above. A semicircular turret stands to the left of the door. The left half of this elevation, which is slightly later in date, features a single-storey canted bay of four lights with a broad entablature to the left and centre, while the right bay contains a tripartite window with stone mullions and transoms at ground level, bipartite windows to the first floor, and three dormers to the attic. Bipartite windows sit above and to the right of the door.

The southwest elevation comprises three bays. A central projecting half-hexagonal bay carries bipartite windows at each floor on its main face and single windows on the outer faces, crowned by a prominent half-timbered gable. Bipartite windows appear elsewhere, and the timber conservatory is positioned at ground level to the left.

The northwest (rear) elevation includes a projecting flue to the right, flanking a door, with single windows to the left at ground and first floor levels. A single-storey and attic service wing is attached to the left.

The northeast elevation comprises five bays arranged in four separate blocks. An advanced left bay features a later three-light window projecting at ground level with a broad entablature and two single windows above. A recessed single-storey central section is followed by a projecting section to the right with a canted window at ground and a square window with chamfered corners above, crowned by a half-timbered gable. A single-storey and attic kitchen wing, two bays in length, extends to the outer right, with gabled dormers to the roof.

The service wing, extending from the northwest elevation, is of L-plan, single-storey and attic construction with multiple gables. A single-storey piend-roofed outshot with coped walls encloses a service court to the northwest. Prominent brick chimney stacks and irregular fenestration characterise this range.

Interior

The interior retains considerable period character. A timber-panelled lobby with a tiled floor provides access from the entrance door. The cloakroom and water closet to the right of the entrance door contain an early 20th century lavatory suite. A timber staircase with turned balusters is lit by a tripartite stair window featuring stained glass leaded lights. The study contains a red brick fireplace. The dining room is substantial, with timber panelling, an elaborate fireplace and a serving hatch. The drawing room features a large carved oak chimneypiece by Robert Thompson, marked with a small carved mouse at the foot of the base—Thompson's craftsman signature. A first-floor bathroom retains its original bath, shower and plumbing system, all in good working order. The attic contains an observatory, not visible from outside. Timber-panelled doors and simple plaster cornicing are found throughout the building.

The roof of the main house is covered in red tiles; the kitchen wing carries slate. Large chimney stacks feature chamfered shoulders and stepped heads; some bear red clay cans. Windows are predominantly two-pane glazing in timber sash and case frames.

Outbuildings and Stables

Three blocks of simple gabled brick stables stand to the northwest of the house. A long four-door range to the left retains original Carron Ironworks stable fittings, with an M-gabled range recessed to the rear. A former tack room and grooms' room to the right, partially destroyed by fire in 2004, contains a wallhead chimney stack and cast-iron fireplace. A detached stable block stands further to the rear.