West Tornahaish Ancillary Building

Probably late 18th to early 19th century. Fine small single storey and attic, 3-bay, rectangular-plan former inn with lean-to outshot at rear, retaining outstanding early interior. Sited at SE gateway to Strathdon close to Old Military Road and at site of former Tornahaish Ford. Coursed and squared pink and grey granite with deep-set openings.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: entrance elevation to E with boarded timber door and narrow 4-part fanlight at centre, windows in flanking bays. Small attic windows to N and S gables.

4-pane glazing pattern in timber sash and case windows. Grey slates and 3 cast iron rooflights. Coped ashlar gablehead stacks with thackstanes and some cans; ashlar-coped skews.

INTERIOR: fine early interior. Boarded timber doors with early ironwork latches and panelled timber doors to box beds and wall cupboards. Kitchen to S at ground floor with monumental segmental fireplace arch (see Notes) with evidence of a canopied central hearth (uncovered 2004) and working swey. Room to N with timber surround to granite fireplace and cast iron horseshoe grate, box beds at W wall boarded. Timber dividing walls at centre with evidence of former box beds; wall recess behind front door (see Notes). Timber staircase running N-S with open sleeping ledge opposite landing with 2 double box beds 5'6' long. 1st floor mostly timber lined.

ANCILLARY BUILDINGS: 2 single storey, rectangular-plan, rubble ancillary buildings to N of house. Byre to earlier N range, probably 18th century (with 2 later cart bays at N end) retaining interior timberwork with trevises and converted from former dwelling house. S range incorporating barn, stable and grain loft with ladder access to attic bothy and mill course at W, distinctive double-lap slating technique using bull nose slates from Kincardine O'Neil church. Wheel pit and mill course for horizontal mill excavated at rear.