The Old Manse, 1-4 Station Road, Balfron

The Old Manse, 1-4 Station Road, Balfron

The main block of this building dates probably to 1789, with substantial extensions added to the west and north/east during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and a further addition to the north-east in the earlier-mid 20th century. Various alterations have been carried out throughout its history.

The building is a complex structure of 2 storeys with attic, originally three bays in rectangular plan. The original main block is adjoined by substantial 2-storey wings of lower height to the west and north/east, with single-storey and single-storey-with-attic sections extending further to the far west. The south (garden) elevation of the original main block is symmetrical.

Originally a manse, it is now subdivided into flats and incorporates some former outbuildings, partly of agricultural character. The construction is mainly harled with painted ashlar dressings, whilst parts of the north elevation and outbuildings are white-painted rubble. The original main block features an eaves band, with vertical margins at the arrises to the original block and south elevation of most of the west additions. Apart from the north elevation of the far-west additions, openings are architraved.

The north (entrance) elevation presents a complex arrangement. The entrance to the main block is set back within a later infill bay to the left of centre, featuring a panelled timber door with a small window to the left and a window above. Two piended dormers (one blind), probably dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, are set back to the original block. A wing addition adjoins the main block, projecting slightly to the left, with a gable of a later L-shaped wing set forward from it. This section has 2 windows to the first floor and a small window to the left of the ground floor. A 3-bay right return features piended dormers to the upper floor and an entrance to the right of the ground floor. A 4-bay section adjoins to the left of the gable end, with windows to the upper floor only and a segmental-headed opening to a passageway at ground floor level (with entrance and window within). An early addition adjoins the main block, set forward to the right, with a window to the left of the first floor. A modern addition is set forward to the right with an entrance to the right and 3 windows to the left. An early gabled addition projects to the right, featuring 2 windows to the first floor, one centred to the ground floor, a stair window centred to the left return, 2 windows to the left of the second floor, an entrance to the right return, and a window above with one to the left. A blank wall of a lower-height former outbuilding adjoins, set back to the right. The gable end of a former cart shed (now garage) projects to the right, with a former segmental-headed entrance (now blocked) and hayloft opening above, a modern garage opening to the left return, and a window to the right return. A single-storey modern addition adjoins the outer right.

The south (garden) elevation shows the main block set forward to the right. At the centre is an entrance with a 2-leaf glazed timber door and rectangular fanlight, with a window above and flanking windows to each floor (those to the attic are later piened dormers). Two ground-floor windows appear to the left return, with a small narrow inserted window to the left of the first floor. An early addition adjoins set back to the left, with 3 windows to the ground floor and 2 above. A gabled section projects slightly to the left with an entrance featuring a glazed door to the right, a window to the left, and a pair of windows above. A lower-height former outbuilding adjoins to the left with 3 large inserted windows to the ground floor and a pair of piened dormers above. The gable end of the former cart shed adjoins to the left, with an arrowslit ventilation opening to the gable and a modern glazed lean-to projecting below. A single-storey modern addition adjoins the outer left.

On the east elevation, the gable end of the main block is set forward to the left with 2 windows to the ground floor and one above to the right. An entrance to a later lean-to is to the right, featuring a glazed door with rectangular fanlight and a piened dormer to the right return. A later wing is set back to the right with a mullioned bipartite window to the ground floor and a window above. A later L-shaped addition adjoins to the left, with a single bay containing an entrance with piened dormer above, a blank gable end projecting to the right, a segmental opening to a passageway to the left return, a window to the left, and an inserted tripartite window to the right. Three windows appear to the upper floor, two being mullioned bipartites to the right.

The roofing is of grey slate. Coped gablehead stacks stand at either end (east and west) of the main block, with one to the attached wing to the north and 4 coped ridge stacks (including 2 gableheads) to sections of the west wing; all have round cans.

The windows are mainly multi-pane timber sash and case, with 12-pane examples to the original block.

The interior was only partially inspected in 1999 and appears much altered. A replacement staircase with turned timber balusters, probably dating to the late 19th century, serves the original main block.