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Summary

Description

William Robertson, 1838-9, mansion with extensive additions

by A and W Reid, 1854-68. Further alterations by Dick Peddie

and Kinnear, 1885-6. Drawing room addition circa 1892

decorated by Sir Robert Lorimer, 1892-3 who also designed

other interior decorations (surviving only in library).

Austere N facing classical 2-storey mansion with single

storey and attic ranges extending to rear. Polished and tooled

ashlar throughout.

Original 5-bay house with shallow advanced outer bays; 2-tier

pedimented tetrastyle portico, lower tier projecting as porte

cochere supported by fluted Greek Doric columns with Empire

garland frieze (porte cochere circa 1855 but probably

designed by William Robertson).

2-storey, 3-bay drawing room wing extends at E continuous

with frontage.

Rectangular bay window (1854) lights library (former dining

room) at W; similar window lights drawing room at E (re-used

from former drawing room).

Some corniced and lugged architraves to aproned ground floor

windows.

Set back 2-bay wing survives at W with outer window framed by

paired pilasters and paired engaged columns supporting

entablature and corniced wallhead.

Extensive infilling of original rear court between 1856-1868;

E return elevation with dormers, windows and hooded canopied

entrance, 1886.

Multi-pane glazing; corniced wallhead; corniced stacks;

shallow piended and gabled slate roofs.

House flanked E and W by 1838-9 polished ashlar pedimented

basket-headed arches leading to former stable court. Paired

pilasters clasp N and S facets under paired Empire garlands;

anthemion and acroteria decorate pediment. Arches linked to

house by low coped tooled ashlar quadrant walls.

INTERIOR: entrance hall, formerly with doorways to drawing

room (left) and dining room (right), opens through columned

screen to stairhall rising 2 storeys; imperial staircase with

mid 19th century cast-and wrought-iron balusters linked to

fluted Ionic cast-iron newels. Coffered ceiling with gilded

detailing and gilded floreated and foliated bosses. Chequered

marble floor (1892-3).

LIBRARY (FORMER DINING ROOM): re-modelled as library by Sir

Robert Lorimer, 1892-3, including bookcases, some with glazed

fronts; also marble chimneypiece with decorative medallions;

coffered ceiling and decorative frieze. 1837 former drawing

room (now children's common room): carved red marble

chimneypiece.

HEADMASTER'S STUDY; 1892-3 chimneypiece with marble slips.

TERRACE: (1885): mansion fronted by balustrade and flights of

steps descending to lower lawn (now playing field).

Statement of Special Interest

Aberlour House, together with E lodge, columns and stables

built by Alexander Grant, who originated from Glenrinnes and

who made a fortune in W Indies. It is doubtful he ever lived

in the house, which he left to his niece, Miss Margaret

Gordon MacPherson, at his death in 1854. She added Grant to

her own name and made extensive additions to house and

policies, dying in 1877 aged 43.

House damaged by fire in 1875.

Property purchased in 1885 by Sir John Ritchie Findlay, owner

of THE SCOTSMAN newspaper, who made further alterations and

additions, including drawing room decorated by Sir Robert

Lorimer (decorations have not survived).

Aberlour House now a school.

Upgraded B to A 9.11.87.

References

Bibliography

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