Summerhouse at Finnich Malise

Finnich Malise is an early 19th-century mansion of two storeys with attic and basement, comprising a symmetrical three-bay main block with short flanking wings added in the late 19th century. The main block is thought to have been built around 1806 when the property passed to William Leckie (Leiper) following the death of the last Stewart family heir, who had owned the estate since the late 17th century. The house changed hands several times; in 1873 the estate was split up, and the house and grounds were sold to John Wilson, a Glasgow shipowner, who added the wings (both extensions shown on the 1898 Ordnance Survey map but neither on that of 1865). On Wilson's death in 1928 the house was sold to Mrs Amy Shand, who undertook much of its internal modernisation.

The building is constructed of red sandstone ashlar, partially rendered. The principal south elevation of seven bays features a pilastered doorcase with entablature to the central entrance, a replacement six-panel timber door surmounted by a leaded fanlight, and flanking windows to each floor with one above at first floor and attic. Later flat-headed dormers sit within the attic. A cill band runs below ground floor windows (except to the north side of the main block), with moulded eaves cornice and low parapet above. Moulded architraved openings appear throughout except to the basement of the principal elevation and rear north side of the original block. Vertical margins at the angles of the original block (pilaster-like to the principal elevation) and west wing are distinctive features. The later wings, set back slightly to either side, each contain windows to the first and second floors and to the basement of the right wing.

The north elevation has five bays with later flat-headed dormers to the attic and a later wing set back slightly to the right, including a two-light mullioned window at basement. A canted three-sided bay projects to the later left wing, with a cill course at first floor. The east elevation comprises three bays to the later wing with windows to each bay at ground and first floors, except the central bay of the first floor (the window to the left of first floor is blocked). The west elevation features a canted three-light window to the ground and first floor of the later wing.

Windows are principally 12-pane timber sash and case windows. The piended grey slate roofs are more steeply pitched to accommodate the later attic to the main block. Pair of tall coped ridge chimney stacks crown the main block, with coped ridge and wallhead chimney stacks to the east wing. A pair of later projecting wallhead chimney stacks at the east end carry round cans.

The interior retains substantial neo-Georgian fixtures and fittings of early to earlier 20th-century date. Doorcases incorporate Adamesque fan-like motifs at the head, with six-panel timber doors and timber panelled dado to most of the ground floor. The living room features full-height timber panelling with fitted bookcases displaying central arched sections and a carved timber fireplace surround incorporating a fasces-type motif. The dining room has a dentilled dado, a carved timber fireplace surround with egg and dart motif and marble inner surround, and an intact dumb waiter to the adjacent serving space. The rear sitting room displays a grey marble fireplace surround (probably slightly earlier than most other fittings), panelled walls and fluted border to the ceiling. A principal staircase of circa 1930s date winds through the house, alongside an earlier servants' staircase with cast iron balustrade.

The summerhouse, an early 20th-century structure, is a square-plan boarded timber building with pyramidal thatched roof with overhanging eaves. It has a four-leaf timber door with glazed upper panels to one side, flanked by serpentine timber handrails to lower outer panels, and a window to each flanking side. It was formerly built onto a wheel mechanism which allowed the entire structure to be rotated. The summerhouse is among a relatively small number of thatched buildings found across Scotland.

Finnich Malise forms a group listing with the Steading/Stable Block, Entrance Lodge and Gateway, and Walled Garden.