Gart, Callander

Gart, Callander

Gart is an asymmetrical, multi-gabled rambling mansion of two phases set close to the banks of the River Teith. The original house was designed and built by William Burn in 1835 for Baronet J M McGregor of McGregor. Following a serious fire in the late 19th century, the house was substantially recast and enlarged in the early 20th century (1902–1903) in the restrained Baronial style visible today.

The building is rectangular in plan with a basement, two principal storeys, and various attic levels. The principal south-east elevation is dominated by an impressive tall turreted stair tower with a squat turret to the north-east, topped by an oversized cap. The rear north-west elevation has a more austere character, with the lawn stepping down to reveal the basement level. The house is surrounded by its designed landscape, with a formal lawned area to the rear and woodland further to the north. The parkland beyond is now occupied by a caravan park in separate ownership.

Though designed by one of Scotland's most eminent domestic architects, the majority of Burn's original house was engulfed in the rebuilding scheme of 1902–1903. The original structure was rectangular in plan, comprising two storeys and a basement, though some traces remain discernible. The smart porch to the principal elevation carries a heraldic shield dated 1903. After the fire, the left end bay of the principal elevation was refashioned and raised a storey to incorporate a heavy parapet, creating a tower in the Baronial style. The original 1835 re-entrant stair turret was raised a stage to correspond. The original proportions of Burn's composition are evident from the side south-west elevation, with its characteristically high principal floor and narrower first floor. The attic floors above are suspected to have been added during the rebuild, with a large carved armorial panel set to the tower. Added as part of the rebuild scheme were the crow-stepped attics to the south-west and north-west elevations, giving the building a rather top-heavy appearance. The north-east wing, with bipartite windows and squat terminating turret, dates entirely from the rebuild scheme and sits slightly recessed against what appears to be the quoins of Burn's original building. Its side north-east elevation has a very informal appearance, with two horizontal first-floor windows set close to the eaves. A pair of windows below the gable to the right are defined by a corbelled table motif. Below at basement level is a single-storey outshot with a steeply pitched crow-stepped gable. The surrounding area forms the servants' courtyard, with a range of stores located to the retaining wall to the south-east.

The interior is relatively plain without elaborate cornice work. The threshold, vestibule, and cloakroom contain mosaic flooring in white, yellow, and green with tendril patterning, heart motifs, and sprigs, with 'welcome' inscribed to the threshold. Some good early 20th-century door furniture remains, including beaten copper finger plates. The large hallway features an impressive stained timber well stair with shaped balusters and geometric detailing to the underside, thought to be original to Burn's design but relocated 90 degrees during the 20th-century alterations. The library, located to the ground floor of the tower to the south, has built-in bookcases with the monogram J & W. The very large drawing room is located to the rear, lit by canted windows to the south-west and north-west and a full-length window to the north-west. Originally there was probably a balcony and steps to the full-length window giving access to the lawn. An open Tudor-style pointed arch gives access from the main hall to a living hall with a Lorimer-style plaster cornice. Beyond this is a billiard room housed in part of the north-east wing. The basement comprises former servants' quarters including the former kitchen. The servants' stair is located in the north-east wing and gives access to a number of timber-lined servants' rooms to the first floor.

The house is constructed of coursed, squared pudding stone with snecked pudding stone to the north-east wing. Yellow stugged sandstone provides the dressings. Windows are timber plate glass with horns. Gables have beaked skewputts. Various grey slate pitched roofs are carried, and pudding stone gable and ridge stacks, some recently repaired with cement render. Cast iron rainwater goods include decorative hoppers with Art Nouveau motifs.