Skellater House

1727; dormer windows and rear additions 1857 (RIAS says 1845); restored 1975-6, builder Alastair Harper; 2004 link kitchen added, architect Michael Rasmussen, Rasmussen Associates, Aboyne, contractor Mike Forbes, Aboyne (see Notes), interior reworked by Mikhail Pietranek, Ballater. Restored, tall 2-storey and attic, 5-bay, T-plan laird's house retaining original fine character, with stone dormerheads flanking advanced gabled wings (forming U-plan front) with glazed arrowslits in gableheads, roll-moulded doorpiece with oval transom light and armorial panel dated 1770. Harl over rubble walls comprising large field boulders with small pinnings. Granite dressings and chamfered arrises. 2-leaf panelled timber door with decorative ironwork latch.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: symmetrical entrance elevation to SE with door to centre at ground, regular fenestration, and 3 dormer windows rising from eaves. Advanced gable to centre of rear elevation incorporating re-entrant angle to right with 2004 glass-walled kitchen link (facing SW) and adjoining single storey and attic gabled garage wing of 1970s.

12-pane glazing pattern in replacement timber sash and case windows with secondary double glazing. Graded grey slates and stone ridge. Coped, squared rubble stacks with thackstanes; ashlar-coped skews with moulded skewputts; stone finials.

INTERIOR: gutted prior to 1975-6 restoration. 2004 reinstatement of cornices, moulded skirtings and architraves. 2 principal ground floor rooms (each formerly divided) in main rectangular block of single room depth. Central dog-leg staircase rises to attic storey. Original granite fireplace survives at 1st floor bedroom. Hall floor of reclaimed pitch pine, rear hall canted. Small space with glazed arrowslit accessed through wall thickness in SE attic bedrooms.

SKELLATER COTTAGE: single storey (formerly with attic), 3-bay, rectangular-plan traditional cottage. Coursed squared granite rubble with slate roof, 12-pane glazing pattern in timber sash and case windows and timber door. Interior with monumental fireplace arch (see Notes).