Dalmoak House

Dalmoak House is a grand mansion built between 1866 and 1869, constructed in a broad U-plan with a castellated Tudor Gothic architectural style. The house sits on a battered base course featuring gunloop details and is characterized by hoodmoulds, a crenellated parapet resting on billetted corbelling, chamfered reveals, curved corners, corbelled bartizans, and rope moulding.

The south-east (main) elevation presents five bays, symmetrically arranged, with a slightly projecting three-bay entrance block defined by its curved corners and bartizans. Steps lead to a porch supported by octagonal piers with crenellated caps and colonnette moulding. The central door is round-arched, featuring a monogram of James Aitken on its keystones, with roundels in the spandrel and an armorial plaque. Returns incorporate narrow, round-headed windows. A heavily carved, shaped parapet displays a plaque with a “JA” monogram, and the inner segmental-headed doorway has a figurative keystone, also likely by James Aitken. Tall bipartite windows are situated at ground level, with three bipartite windows symmetrically placed on the first floor, accented by ashlar guttae detailing.

A square-plan tower rises behind the main body of the house, displaying chamfered corners, a machicolated crenellated parapet, decorative rainwater spout details, an octagonal turret at the rear corner, arrowloops, and a decorative corbelled cap. Canted bay windows are positioned in the ground floor outer bays, topped with a crenellated blocking course and a bipartite window above. A canted crenellated turret and arrowslits complete the tower’s features.

The north-east elevation likewise features five bays, with a two-bay block projecting to the outer left; the parapet is terminated by octagonal turrets, and a turreted off-set stack is centrally positioned. A three-bay block to the outer right is slightly recessed, with its parapet concluding in a squat turret.

The south-west elevation has five bays, with a three-bay block projecting to the outer right, displaying symmetrically disposed windows and off-set piers that break the parapet, framing a central plaque. A two-bay block is recessed to the outer left.

The north-west (rear) elevation adopts the U-plan configuration, exhibiting two-bay symmetrical outer wings connected by a screen wall featuring a shaped, battlemented wallhead. Stair windows are positioned behind. The symmetrical wings feature a blind window at ground level on the right of the left wing, and a jettied wallhead stack is centrally located. Three round-arched, traceried stair windows are recessed in the centre. The screen wall has a shaped parapet wallhead, a broad three-centre arched door to the outer left with a monogrammed plaque, and a window to the right.

The windows are plate glass, set in timber sash and case frames. The roof is covered in grey slate with lead flashings. Broad, corniced wallhead stacks add to the visual prominence.

The interior showcases sumptuous decorative schemes, including a tripartite etched glass vestibule door. The stair hall and corridor feature scagliola Corinthian columns, a coffered ceiling, a modillioned cornice, and heavy decorative cornices with paired brackets. A wooden Imperial stair rises within the hall, illuminated by three round-arched stained glass stair windows depicting a Celtic mythological scene, a “JA” monogram, and currently unsigned. Niches flank the stair landing. Ornate marble chimneypieces adorn the upper bedrooms. A room to the west of the hall displays coffered plasterwork, Corinthian columns (again bearing the “JA” monogram), and a geometric ceiling. The east front room is distinguished by plasterwork ceiling, egg and dart moulding, beading, and a dentil cornice.