Warehouse And Kiln, Royal Lochnagar Distillery

The Royal Lochnagar Distillery comprises a group of distinctive buildings constructed in 1845, with later alterations in the 19th and 20th centuries. The complex represents a purpose-built distillery, featuring a manager’s house to the northeast. The buildings are constructed primarily from coursed grey granite rubble, with some pink granite used in the manager’s house.

The former maltings building, now a warehouse, is a four-story, double-pile structure with regularly spaced small shuttered or hoist door openings. A U-shaped steading, now serving as a visitor’s centre, originally featured seven cart arches to the east, flanked by advanced blank gables to the north and south; these arches now have boarded two-leaf timber doors. A pyramid-roofed mash house is also present. A complex of single-story office buildings, including a three-bay cottage, sits to the north. A tall brick chimney is located to the south. The buildings exhibit a variety of window types, primarily with timber surrounds, under grey slate roofs. Some gable stacks are present, along with brown painted iron rainwater goods.

Internally, the buildings have been extensively modernised; however, original features remain, including an old, open-top mash tun with rakes and rows of iron columns from the former maltings. The manager’s house is a two-story, three-bay structure with a timber gabled porch, timber sash and case windows, two gable stacks, and purple slates, complemented by white-painted rainwater goods. A single-story outhouse features granite rubble construction and an eight-pane timber casement window and timber door.

The site has been in operation since 1845, following a fire that destroyed a previous distillery on the same location in 1841. John Begg was granted a lease to construct the distillery, and it was subsequently visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1848, leading to a Royal Warrant and the adoption of the "Royal Lochnagar" brand name. Substantial, sensitively executed alterations were made in the late 20th century to accommodate visitors and modern distilling practices. The complex represents a good example of a group of mid-19th century distillery buildings that remain in use.