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

INVERCAULD HOUSE, INCLUDING BUTLER'S FLAT, SECRETARY'S FLAT AND ANCILLARY STRUCTURESLB2995

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
A
Date Added
24/11/1972
Supplementary Information Updated
14/11/2006
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Planning Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Crathie And Braemar
National Park
Cairngorms
NGR
NO 17401 92437
Coordinates
317401, 792437

Description

17th century origins but largely dating from the 19th century. Predominantly, 1750, 1820, 1847, 1875 and 1890. Remodelled extensively in 1875 by J T Wimperis of London. Extended Z-plan, 3-storey and attic multi-gabled and turreted Scots Baronial house, forming open courtyard at N. Large dominant 6-storey castellated square tower to N and square single storey corbelled and crenellated corner entrance porch to SE, with pyramid roof, Tudor arched entrance and very battered base course. Coursed pink and grey granite. Crow-stepped gables. Corbelled and crenellated with candle-snuffer roof turrets. Small gabled roof dormers with pinnacles.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: asymmetrical elevations. 3 bay bowed wing to S with corbelled, stepped, castellated parapet with candle snuffer-roof bartizans. 2-storey polygonal section to E with piended roof. Recessed 5-bay, 2-storey and attic wing to left. W elevation; 3-storey and attic 5-bay wing to right with off-centre recessed bay with single storey crenellated entrance porch flush to elevation.

Predominantly plate glass timber sash and case windows. Grey slate. Gable and ridge stacks.

INTERIOR: complex internal plan with some outstanding public rooms and abundant original features. Broad, shallow tread finely detailed timber entrance stair with carved lions to newels. Drawing room has plaster strapwork ceiling with decorative cornicing and large white painted Gothic style chimneypiece and overmantle, with corresponding Gothic architrave. Timber panelled dining room with segmental arch stone chimneypiece. Classical style timber chimneypiece and overmantle in library and integral wall-height timber bookcases. Timber Jacobean chimneypiece to hall with obelisk decoration. Some stained glass to hall with Farquharson crest. Numerous simple timber classical chimneypieces, working shutters, decorative cornicing.

ANCILLARY STRUCTURES:

BUTLER'S HOUSE: forming U-plan with corresponding Secretary's Flat to N. W elevation; 2-storey 3-bay house with slightly advanced central gable. Tall, distinctive gable diamond stacks. Coped skews with rectangular coped skewputts.

SECRETARY'S FLAT: 2-storey 3-bay house.

GAME LARDER: single-storey and basement square-plan with chamfered corner with slated buttresses. Raised entrance reached by later metal steps. Situated to N of house within courtyard. Painted harl with granite dressings. Pyramidal roof with deep bracketed eaves. Interior not seen.

KENNELS: simple single storey weatherboarded building with open porch with rustic timber columns and small yard.

DAIRY: square-plan white painted harl with pyramidal roof and tall louvered vent at apex. Deep bracketed eaves. 4-panelled timber door and narrow windows. Some fish-scale pattern slates.

COTTAGE: to S of dairy; single storey, 3-bay cottage. Base course. Polygonal large central entrance porch to E with pyramidal bell-cast roof with decorative ball-finialled louvred flèche. 6-panel timber entrance door set within corniced and consoled classical doorpiece. Bipartite windows with timber mullion and transoms.

ANCILLARY STRUCTURE: low single storey weatherboarded gabled structure. 6-pane top-hopper windows with glazed pediment above.

Statement of Special Interest

Impressive and extensive multi-phased complex. Seat of the Farquharson family, who settled in the area in 1371. Prominently positioned on the N bank of the River Dee with open views to the S. Although the original Farquharson House was built in the 16th century, most of the current one dates from the 19th century and it is probable that the only remaining 16th century section is the vaulted basement under the tower. Additions to the house in 1674-79 transformed what was a defensive structure in to a more comfortable residence which was described by the Earl of Mar in 1715 as being a 'suitable place for residence, and commodious'. Further additions during the 18th and 19th centuries resulted in a house described by W M Taylor, in 1887 as 'one of the most commodious as well as elegant residences in the North'. There is little research currently available for Invercauld House.

The Farquharson family were closely involved with the Stuart cause in the early 18th century and Jacobite chiefs met at Invercauld to discuss their plans in 1715. Queen Victoria was a frequent visitor to the House during her periods of residence at nearby Balmoral.

J T Wimperis was a London based architect, and his work was mainly focussed there. After the remodelling of Invercauld House, he was commissioned by the Grosvenor Estate to do work in London. The landscape around the house may previously have been planned formally, but there is little evidence of this today.

Change of Category from B to A, (2006).

References

Bibliography

Roy Map (1747-55), 18/5b, from www.scran.co.uk. 1st Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1866). Dictionary of Scottish Architects, www.codexgeo.co.uk/dsa. W M Taylor, Castles of Aberdeenshire (1887), p83. J Stirton, Crathie and Braemar, History of a United Parish (1925), pf69. J Geddes, Deeside and the Mearns; An Illustrated Architectural Guide (2001), p151. New Statistical Account. Groome's Gazetteer (1892).

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: 29/03/2024 09:12