Candacraig House

Candacraig House is a B-listed building designed by A G R Mackenzie in 1956, which retains elements from a fire-damaged Jacobean house originally built in 1835 by John Smith of Aberdeen, incorporating parts of an earlier structure. The west wing was added by George Gordon of Inverness in 1900 and was partly remodeled in 1956. This well-detailed, two- and three-storey, L-plan Jacobethan house is situated at the northern boundary of the estate, overlooking the policies towards the River Don to the south. The exterior features harled walls with stone margins, some of which are chamfered, and coursed squared rubble with ashlar dressings at the rear. It has a base course, conical-roofed round towers, decorative stone window heads, and vaulted cellars, along with stone transoms and mullions.

The building has asymmetrical elevations, with the south entrance elevation showcasing a broad door leading to a squat round tower set back at the right, and an ostrich emblem on the gabled bay to the right. To the left, there is an advanced block with four stone-pedimented window heads that break the eaves, and conical towers at the southeast and northwest angles. The west wing features transomed windows and a broad canted bay.

The windows are largely timber sash and case with multi-pane glazing patterns, covered with graded grey slates. The house has coped ashlar stacks, ashlar-coped skews with block skewputts, and cast-iron downpipes with decorative rainwater hoppers, along with decorative ironwork weathervanes.

Inside, some fine early interior details have been preserved, including moulded cornices and classical features in the dining room, such as broken pediment doorpieces and cornices. The panelled sitting room boasts a fine strapwork ceiling and a Tudor-arched stone fireplace with a two-tier carved frieze. The earlier east wing contains early linenfold panelling and a door with relief carved detail, possibly imported. An oak studded door leads to a first-floor room.