Garden Walls And Gatepiers, Boundary Walls, Blairmore House Including Garage, Shore Road, Blairmore

Blairmore House, dated 1858, is an exceptional example of a larger marine villa of the 1850s and one of the premier houses on the Blairmore shore. The house stands prominently above Shore Road with generous lawns to the front and contributes significantly to the collection of listed buildings in the area.

The main house is a large 2-storey villa with a squat 3-stage tower to the SW corner and a prominent concave-canted full-height bay. The low-pitch roof has later dormers to the front. The building is constructed of honey-coloured sandstone ashlar to the front elevation, with rendered surfaces and rusticated sandstone dressings to the tower and rear elevations. Windows are predominantly plate glass sash and case, with some mullioned windows to the rear.

The house is unusual in both form and architectural detail. The corner bay with concave sides is particularly distinctive, as is the treatment of the quoins with bordered rustication. These features, along with the heavy consoled eaves, are characteristic of Alexander Thomson's earlier villas, notably Glen Eden of the early 1850s. Blarachorine, also in Blairmore and separately listed, contains identical details and is likely by the same architect.

The building underwent significant alterations and extensions over its history. The 1st edition Ordnance Survey map shows a substantial semicircular bay to the north, later replaced by a single-storey rectangular projection. By the 1898 edition, a small extension had been built to the NW corner. During the early 20th century, this was substantially extended or replaced with a 2-storey block. At the same period, rear alterations were carried out, including a 2-storey extension containing an Arts and Crafts dining room. The interior underwent many modifications during the 20th century, altering the disposition of upstairs rooms. The house was used as a care home by the West of Scotland Teacher's Nursing Association and later as a hotel. At the time of survey in 2004, a single-storey extension to the south was under construction.

Despite these adjustments and additions, many original details survive. The interior features a square-columned stair hall, good quality stained glass, raised friezes and decorative plasterwork cornices. Above the stairs is a tall cupola with foliate plasterwork to the ribs. The NE reception room has a large segmental arch on paired columns. The rear extension contains a dining room with a stone chimneypiece with a massive stone overmantle and a fireback inscribed 1588 IFC, dating to the 16th century or a replica thereof, as well as timber panelling. Original joinery, timber chimneypieces, and early 20th century tiled bath and shower facilities are also present.

The property occupies a large plot well above the road. To the SW corner are outbuildings, originally comprising a corner lodge set at an angle to the road, subsequently substantially added to and altered. An early 20th century garage with a piended slated roof and internal tiling opens onto the High Road. Substantial greenhouses formerly stood to the High Road.

The boundaries consist of a long balustraded wall to Shore Road with square-plan gatepiers. The wall facing the High Road is of rubble with round gatepiers topped by quartz rubble capstones. Stretches of balustraded wall extend throughout the garden. A single-storey lodge to Shore Road is listed separately.