Roman Camp Hotel, Callander

Roman Camp Hotel, Callander

A picturesque large, low rambling house of various dates, reputed originally to have been built as a hunting lodge for the Drummond family in the 17th century. The building is located in an idyllic setting close to the banks of the River Teith and set within 20 acres of well-kept grounds.

The main block consists of a gabled 2-storey and attic 5-bay house probably remodelled in the mid 19th century. An adjoined 18th century single storey bow-ended west wing features a good interior. In 1896 the house was purchased by Reginald Baliol Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher who over the next two decades commissioned the architects Stewart & Paterson of Glasgow to undertake a series of alterations and extensions, primarily to the rear north elevation. These included a library wing, chapel, and various conical roofed turrets. Esher also oversaw the installation of many pieces of salvaged architectural details throughout the house and grounds. In 1939 the house was developed as a hotel with further alterations carried out in the later and late 20th century.

The principal south elevation of the main block has an asymmetrical appearance with a shallow chimney-gable breaking eaves set to the centre. The door below at ground floor is set to the centre right with a salvaged stone porch with Renaissance detailing surmounted by an armorial panel. The window layout is also arranged asymmetrically with paired openings to the left outer bays but only single openings to the right outer bays, indicating that the building has undergone remodelling in the past. The principal elevation of the west wing is masked by a 20th century rubble lean-to loggia, the integrated roofline of which creates a dramatic sweep.

To the east is a 3-bay single storey and attic wing which appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey map. It is now used as a function room with a painted ceiling by James A. Gray based on 16th and 17th century Scots motifs. To the far left, joined by a linking entrance, is a large 3-bay bow-fronted single storey restaurant built in 1997 and known as Drummond Hall. It has a distinctive heavy parapet which steps up to a semi-circular centrepiece over each bay.

The west elevation is arranged with the bow of the west wing to the right, the 20th century single storey library block to the centre and a small single storey turreted chapel with conical roof to the far left. Photographs held at the National Monuments Record of Scotland show the rear north elevation in 1911 when most of the work of Stewart and Paterson had been carried out. It was remodelled in the Scots Vernacular tradition with two 2-storey conical roofed turrets and a turret at first floor set to the re-entrant angle of the 2-storey addition and original house. A number of later single storey extensions have been added in the mid and later 20th century including an unusual row of boldly curved 3-light bays with decorative parapets housing bedrooms. To the left of these is an ogee-roofed pavilion linked to a further range.

Interior

Ground floor public rooms only were inspected at the time of site visit in 2004. The hall contains salvaged timber panelling with diamond carving and linenfold panelling. An impressive salvaged oak panelled library features a stone fireplace and integral overmantle mirror flanked by fluted pilasters rising to a notable Jacobean style ceiling with plaster pendants. The bow-ended drawing room contains a fine classical white sienna marble chimney piece with a symmetrical arrangement of an arched buffet recess flanked by 6-panel timber doors, probably indicating that the room was originally conceived as a dining room. The room has a delicate plaster ceiling. The chapel walls contain exposed rubble with stone vault.

Materials

Predominantly rendered walls are painted pink with some string courses and cills to additions. Predominantly timber 12-pane timber sash and case windows are used throughout, with multi-pane casements to the bow-ended wing. There are pairs of timber multi-paned slate-hung gabled dormer windows to the principal elevation of the main house. Five timber multi-paned slate-hung piend roofed dormer windows are located to the east wing principal elevation. Grey slated roofs are used throughout. Coped ashlar gable apex stacks to the original house have circular cans. A tall coped ashlar stack is located to the single storey east wing. A number of rendered stacks are present to the rest of the complex.

Guest Cottage

A 20th century simple single storey and attic gabled cottage includes a circular tower to the northeast, joined to the main hotel complex by a linking section. The gabled entrance porch, centring the east elevation, features stone columns to the corners and an armorial panel within the gablehead. A gablet with a single window breaks the eaves above the entrance. The southeast corner is chamfered, being roughly corbelled out to below the eaves in order to create the feeling that this building is much older than its actual build date. The rear west elevation is much more workaday, being 4-bay with the far bay to the left appearing to be a later addition.

Garden Features

Located to the rear of the hotel, set within a yew-hedged square, is a possibly 18th century sundial pillar with a 4-sided square face, a gnomon to each face, surmounted by a ball finial. To the southwest of the Walled Garden is a substantial rhododendron garden, known as Sir Harry's Garden, with a centrally placed column consisting of various salvaged classical architectural pieces. A 20th century summer house is located to the west of the Walled Garden with a salvaged Gothic trefoil niche to the interior.