Boathouse

Later 19th century villa designed in the style of Alexander 'Greek' Thomson. Burnknowe is a large, asymmetrical house in the Italian Romanesque style, comprising two storeys with a three-storey tower or belvedere. It is little altered and represents an example of the Thomsonesque style, more commonly found in larger settlements closer to the Clyde estuary. Among the villas on Inverlounin Road, Burnknowe is architecturally the most imposing and arguably demonstrates a desire on the part of the architect and client (both unknown) to move beyond the more typical pattern book architectural styles that predominate in Lochgoilhead.

The choice of a strong classical architectural style was probably inspired by numerous similar villas built around the Clyde estuary in the second half of the nineteenth century, designed by Thomson himself and by architects heavily influenced by his style. Burnknowe possesses characteristic Thomsonesque features including a large bow window and a tower positioned to command the best possible views of the loch. The massing of the house reflects that of Thomson's own villas, such as Craig Ailey, Cove. Windows are mainly round-headed and arranged in groups of three or more to light the larger rooms. The overhanging eaves feature mutule blocks; the very broad tower eaves are modillioned. Window mullions are formed by classical colonnettes.

A rectangular, single-storey, largely glazed room and entrance porch on the south side appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey map, suggesting it is original or was added shortly after completion, though the glazing may have been altered. Internally, this room has timber columns at the corners and timber cornicing and ceiling. Adjacent is a bow-ended conservatory; a glazed structure has been shown on this site since the first edition Ordnance Survey map, but appears to have been altered or replaced by the current structure in the late 19th century.

Interior features include cornicing of varying complexity and two columned timber chimneypieces to the principal ground floor rooms. Most of the original doors and architraves remain. The stair is painted timber with turned balusters and newel posts. Several windows and some doors are glazed with leaded glass, some of which is painted, all produced by MacFarlane and Co of Glasgow. The style of this glass is Arts and Crafts and it was probably fitted when other alterations and additions took place in the late 19th century. To the rear, service rooms including the pantry, scullery and laundry room remain, lined with glazed bricks.

The building is harled with narrow painted margins. Windows are mainly timber sash and case with 2 or 4 pane glazing; multi-pane glazing appears to the conservatory and glazed porch. The roof is pitched slate with some graded slate. Stacks are mainly corniced gable head and wallhead types with octagonal cans.

The two-storey boathouse has much original material replaced but retains a balustered timber gable, weather vane and some original windows with coloured margin panes.