Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

VIEWFIELD HOUSE AND OUTBUILDINGLB13929

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
C
Date Added
08/09/1982
Local Authority
Highland
Planning Authority
Highland
Parish
Portree
NGR
NG 47637 43067
Coordinates
147637, 843067

Description

Alexander Ross, 1885-1887. Originally late 18th century, 2-storey, 3-bay house with block pediment central door; coursed rubble, end stacks; slate roof; substantial additions and alterations forming, 2-storey and attic, asymmetrical gabled house with porte cochere and square crenellated tower with views to Loch Portree and the Sound of Raasay. Circular caphouse to stair, rising 2 stages above roof, added to S gable (1885-1887). All rendered with ashlar dressings; long and short detailing to tower and windows.

NE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: principal entrance at tower base under keyblocked elliptically arched porte cochere with channelled angle pilasters and balustrade.

SE (GARDEN) ELEVATION: asymmetrical S front with 2 canted bay windows at ground floor; transomed and mullioned stair light and tripartite window at 1st floor with shallow corbelled balustrade and iron railing. 1887 pedimented and chamfered doorpiece to original entrance; centre bay raised with wallhead gable; 2 piended dormers.

SW (GARDEN) ELEVATION: single storey C-shaped range (late 18th century), gabled roof, including kitchen and (former) byre, coal cellar, cart shed (later used as laundry) now converted to accommodation and office use. Single storey piended lean-to roof to late 19th century annex connection.

NW (SERVICES) ELEVATION: as at SW, with entrance to kitchen block via annex connection.

Slate roof. Predominantly single-pane and 6 over 6 casement windows. Multiple stacks, some with decorative clay cans. Cast iron hoppers and downpipes.

INTERIOR: fine late 19th century decorative interior incorporating high quality ornate carved fireplace to entrance hall dated 1887; stairs, panelling and doors of 1887 in situ. Original stairs to 18th century house with some alterations at 1st floor level to accommodate attic stairwell. Encaustic tiles to vestibule. Original room layout largely intact. Some decorative stone fire surrounds. Decorative cornice to most rooms. Radiators with metal-grill and timber covers. Late 1880s service bells extant in kitchen block annex. Late 1880s sanitary ware extant to toilet at ground and first floor.

OUTBUILDING: (NG 147595 843080) Alexander Ross, 1887. 2-storey, 4-bay, rectangular-plan, random rubble outbuilding comprising former coach houses, stables, hayloft, doocot, gunroom and kennels. Gabled slate roof with two stacks. Former kennels to rear elevation at W. Lantern to S gable end. 4 boxed dormers to E. Some non-traditional windows, with openings of varying size. Interiors modernised.

Statement of Special Interest

Viewfield House is a good example of a substantial late 19th century villa with earlier origins which has a number of distinctive architectural features including a fine interior and distinctive tower. Located within a rural island setting and contained within its own grounds, Viewfield House has views of Loch Portree and the Sound of Raasay.

Viewfield House was originally commissioned by Lord MacDonald of Sleat, and is thought to have been for the chamberlain or factor of his estates who was responsible for the collection of rents and other monies owing to the MacDonalds. The earlier house appears in Daniel's print of 1819 as Corta n Creag.

Alexander Ross's extension transformed this modest late 18th century classical house into a grand villa for Harry MacDonald who had made his fortune planting indigo in India. He was the grandson of

Dr Alexander Macleod, who in turn was grandson of Donald Macleod of Berneray (the 'Old Trojan'). Dr Macleod was a surgeon, engineer and land improver. He moved to Skye from the Western Isles, and established Viewfield House in Portree, where he was the doctor for Strath, Sleat and Knoydart.

Alexander Ross was born in Angus in 1834 and was the son of James Ross, architect. In 1838 the family moved to Inverness, and Alexander was made assistant before taking over his father's practice at the early age of 19 when he died in 1853. Ross's contribution to Highland architecture is significant and his legacy lives on in a large number of buildings in the north of Scotland. Ross went into partnership several times throughout his career, and by the 1890s his practice had grown considerably, particularly with the design of new schools and schoolhouses as a result of the 1872 Education (Scotland) Act, which made education compulsory for children age 5-13. In 1907 he took his son John Alistair Ross into practice. Ross retired in 1923, however he remained active until he died on 19 May 1925 at the age of ninety.

List description and statutory address updated 2013.

References

Bibliography

1st Edition Ordnance Survey Map, (1881). Advertisement for tenders, Inverness Courier, (19 Dec 1885). M Miers, The Western Seaborad, An Illustrated Architectural Guide, (2008) pp219-220, p372. Dictionary of Scottish Architects (2013). Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre (2013).

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 28/03/2024 09:59