Balliemore

Balliemore Farm

Balliemore is a late 18th or early 19th century farmhouse with associated earlier 19th century barn and outbuildings. The farm represents a rare surviving example of such buildings in the area, retaining much original character with a formal farmhouse, fully-enclosed courtyard, and barn incorporating the remains of a water-powered threshing mill.

The complex comprises a central piend-roofed 3-bay 2-storey farmhouse with single-storey wings on either side, a fully-enclosed courtyard of single-storey outbuildings to the rear, and a large L-plan barn to the southeast. Two large late 20th century corrugated iron and timber barns stand further to the southeast.

Historical Context

A farm has occupied the site for some time before the present buildings were constructed. Maps from around 1747 and 1801 (Roy's Military Survey and Langlands) show a number of buildings. The New Statistical Account records that the 'Mansion House' at Balliemore had been built since the previous account of around 1792, with the proportions of the house confirming a date in the late 18th or early 19th century.

The Farmhouse

The northeast-facing central farmhouse is entirely built of rubble with a piend roof. A piend-roofed entrance porch with a single small window occupies the centre. Above this is a central casement window, larger than others on the elevation. The rear elevation has irregular fenestration, with a large stair window slightly off-centre and a single small gabled dormer above it. The side elevations are dominated by large shouldered stacks, with a single window on the southeast.

Two low single-storey wings flank the main elevation. The northwest wing provides access to the courtyard from the front. A single-storey late 20th century extension connects the rear of the house to the rear of the southeast wing.

Interior

The interior has been substantially modernised, but the original timber-balustraded stair survives.

Materials and Fenestration

The walls are painted whin rubble. The main house has graded grey slate roofs. Windows are predominantly timber sash and case in 12-pane and 4-pane configurations, with a central casement window on the front elevation.

The Courtyard

The remaining three sides of the courtyard are built up with a narrow entrance at the southeast end of the southwest range. The southeast and northwest ranges were likely built with the main house. The southwest range, parallel to the house, is thought to be an earlier building, though it has been altered to form a wide opening and probably shortened to allow courtyard access.

The southeast range is a piend-roofed byre with narrow slit vents to the courtyard elevation and concrete stalls inside. A 20th century brick shed stands parallel and to the southeast. The northwest and southwest ranges are piend-roofed with irregularly disposed openings. The southwest range served as a smiddy (smithy) with a bothy at its northwest end. The northwest range was a stable.

The Barn

The large L-plan barn to the southeast of the house and courtyard has corrugated asbestos roofs. Despite some alterations, it retains opposing large segmental-arched doors for hand-threshing and narrow slit-vents. The southeast wall preserves the remains of a water-wheel, formerly fed by a flume from the west. A threshing mill survives on the upper floor.

Boundary Walls

Rubble boundary walls line the entrance drive.