Callandrade

Callandrade

A house of the 1830s-1840s built on an asymmetrical L-plan with two storeys. The building's restrained design is enlivened by striking polygonal chimney stacks that punctuate the roof profile and a prominent gabled bay on the principal south elevation. Late 19th century alterations have been sympathetically composed. The house is recognised as a good example of a small country house in Callander Parish and has remained largely unaltered. It sits within its original grounds, well planted with mature trees including an impressive avenue of beech trees.

The principal south elevation is simply organised, with two large windows to the ground floor lighting the drawing room and smaller windows to the first floor set at the eaves. A gabled bay projects slightly from the main elevation to the right, dominated by an exposed chimney breast with narrow windows flanking it at first floor level and a single window to the right at ground floor. The gable was probably originally blank, as suggested by the fresh-looking dressings around the windows, the way they are keyed in, and their vertical form contrasting with the predominantly horizontal fenestration elsewhere. The windows were most likely inserted in the 20th century. A single-storey stone-built gabled porch was added in the later or late 19th century.

The west elevation is relatively plain, with a low long window to the ground floor that is probably a later insertion providing access to the garden.

The rear north elevation comprises a double-gabled two-storey wing facing the former rear service yard. The kitchen occupies the ground floor to the right, with the stairwell at the centre. Part of this wing may originally have been single storey and heightened later, as evidenced by a clear change in the stonework at first floor level. To the far left is a single-storey wing with attic space, probably dating from the late 19th century and originally used for servants or office purposes. It has a flat-roofed section facing into the service yard, arranged with four equally spaced windows and a door close to the main body of the house.

The east elevation has a canted bay to the ground floor with full-length windows and a stone slab roof. To the right is a narrow, slightly advanced gabled block with a long two-part window to the ground floor, probably built in the late 19th century against the stairwell wing. A single-storey wing with attic space runs north, with three equally spaced windows to the ground floor and three large dormer windows above, possibly inserted in the 20th century.

Interior features include a dogleg timber stair with decorative cast-iron balusters and timber handrail. Six-panelled timber doors with panelled timber reveals to the ground floor. Timber-panelled window shutters throughout. Decorative cornicing runs throughout the ground floor, with simpler cornices and some coombed ceilings to the first floor. The porch retains deep red and black Minton tiles. The kitchen range still survives. The servants' wing remains largely unmodernised, with a series of small rooms at ground and attic floor, the attic accessed by its own stair. All original chimney pieces have been lost through modernisation.

Materials consist of coursed rubble pudding stone to the original house, with squared stone used for the late 19th century additions. Sandstone forms the basecourse and dressings to openings and quoins. The principal elevation and rear servants' wing have panelled timber twin-leaf doors. Windows are a variety of timber multi-paned sash and case and casement windows, including some with lying-pane glazing. Deep overhanging eaves expose the rafters. Timber gabled dormers feature exposed rafters and slate hanging. The roofs are pitched grey slate. Gable apex, ridge and wallhead ashlar display paired and tripartite polygonally-shaped chimney stacks with circular cans remaining to all. Cast-iron rainwater goods are present throughout.