Lochend House

Lochend House

A substantial multi-phase house dating from 1715 with later additions, situated in mature gardens on the south-east bank of Lake of Menteith. The house has a long association with the Cardross estate and was probably built as a tacksman or factor's house. It comprises a 1715 core with significant extensions to the east dating from 1871, 1893, and the late 1990s, representing an interesting sequence of architectural development.

The principal south elevation presents a central 2-storey, 3-bay block with a doorway and red sandstone date panel inscribed 1715 to the centre, flanked by single windows. Two large steeply gabled dormer windows to the roof date from the 1871 alterations. To the west, a 2-storey single-bay addition includes a ground-floor drawing room with a 3-light canted bay window to the west return, added in 1871, with a first-floor bedroom above dating from 1922.

Adjoining the 1715 core to the east is a 2-storey section with attic and gable, slightly advanced, dated 1871. This section displays considerable architectural detailing including chamfered margins to windows, a pediment to the attic, quoins, rybats, chamfered skew, a decorative finial to the gable apex, and decorative skewputs bearing inscriptions: 'J. E. E' (John Elphinstone Erskine) to the left and '1871' to the right. A large gabled dormer in the roof facing east is partially hidden by the gable apex. Further east, a lower single-storey section with attic extension, originally the servants' and nursery wing, contains two single windows to the ground floor and a bipartite window breaking the eaves above with a pediment and inscription: '1893 H.D.E. H.E.E. EX DONO G.A.C.E.'. Finally, adjoining to the east, is a 2-storey, 3-bay extension dating from the late 1990s, which replaced an Alisdair Nairn extension of 1969 destroyed by fire in 1995. The roofline sits at the same level as the 1893 extension, though the eaves are higher. The east return elevation is 2-storey with attic, featuring heavy asymmetrical margins to openings.

The north rear elevation largely mirrors the south elevation. The rear elevation of the 1715 core has been altered and comprises five bays with a late 20th-century timber-glazed conservatory to the left and a large 5-light canted bay window to the right, probably inserted to maximise views across the lawns to Lake of Menteith. The first floor contains five regularly spaced windows with a single large canted dormer to the roof.

The interior has been largely remodelled by Buchanan in 1922. Most fireplaces were replaced at this time, and a large oak staircase with barleysugar balusters, which dominates the 1715 core, was inserted along with many oak floors. Deep skirting, cornicing, panelled timber doors, and timber working shutters mostly date from 1922. An earlier decorative scheme on the ceiling of the 1715 core has been papered over, though photographic records of it are held by the present owners. The house has been divided into three separate residences, all in single ownership with interconnecting doors.

The materials comprise a 2-leaf timber front door with various other timber and half-glazed doors to architraved doorways. Windows are predominantly timber sash and case. The masonry varies considerably: much-pointed rubble with chamfered margins to openings characterises the 1715 core, whilst the later additions employ squared, squared and coursed rubble with sandstone ashlar dressings. The roofs were reslated with new grey slates in the 1990s. Various skews and finials adorn the gable apices. Two large corniced ashlar ridge stacks dating from 1871 dominate the 1715 core and mark the original gables of the 1715 house, with a variety of smaller coped stacks to the eastern sections.