Cottages To East Of Walled Garden (Riverside And Adjoining Cottage), Benmore House, Benmore Botanic Garden

Loch Lomond And Trossachs National Park Planning Authority

This pair of roughly L-shaped crowstepped dormered cottages, situated on the present main access road to Benmore House and Steading, is part of the development of the estate at Benmore, belonging to the period of expansion in the early 1860s. They contribute to the overall ensemble at Benmore, their style reflecting that of the principal buildings.

Description And Development: the principal block is parallel to the main road, rectangular in plan with crow-stepped gables. At the N end gabled wings projects E and W at right angles. Along this elevation are 4 regularly placed openings, including a door to the N. The entrance to the second (Riverside) cottage is in the S elevation, with the main gable on the right, beside which is a 3-bay facade with a central crow-stepped porch and two dormers, the space between them boxed. To the rear are lean-to extensions.

The cottages appear to have been built at the time of the ownership of the estate by James Patrick, who employed Charles Wilson to extend the house and build the steading. The principal block of these cottages probably belong to the same period and are likely to have been built for estate workers. In 1870 James Duncan purchased the estate, carrying out a number of improvements. It is likely the extensions to the S are probably of c1874.

Interior: the interior of Riverside cottage has little original fabric. Access was not gained to the N cottage during the 2004 survey.

Materials: squared rubble with sandstone ashlar dressings. Predominantly multi-pane timber sash and case windows. Graded grey slate roof. Stone stacks, polygonal clay cans.