Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Earlier nineteenth century, incorporating earlier fabric. 2-storey, 3-bay, gabled farmhouse with lower wings to N and S and flanking byre ranges forming U-plan courtyard to E (front). Random sandstone and whinstone rubble with sandstone ashlar dressings; squared, coursed, pinned rubble to front elevation of house. Raised base course, eaves course, quoin strips and window margins to front of house; raised margins to S byre.

HOUSE AND WINGS: 2-leaf non-traditional uPVC front door in roll-moulded ashlar architrave. Regular fenestration; slight relieving arches over ground-floor windows. Lower, probably earlier, 2-storey 2-bay wing to S (outer left) with 2 doors at ground, and single window at 1st floor. Single storey 2-bay wing to N (outer right) with door and narrow window. Irregular fenestration to rear with predominantly mid-20th century windows at ground. Lean-to outshot adjoining 2-storey wing.

Predominantly 4-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows; 12-pane glazing to 1st floor of S wing. Some non-traditional glazing to rear. Corniced, rendered stacks; some yellow clay cans. Ashlar-coped skews. Graded grey slate.

INTERIOR: decorative cornice in drawing room. Some timber panelled interior doors. Staircase balusters possibly boarded over.

S BYRE: early 19th century, possibly incorporating 18th century fabric. Pigeon loft, later doorway and ashlar-coped skews to E gable. Later lean-to addition to N. Corrugated iron roof. Roof piended to W.

N BYRE: probably earlier-mid 19th century. Random rubble; slate roof; gable to E with later entrance; piended roof to W; possibly earlier section extending to W; lean-to additions to N and S.

BOUNDARY WALLS, GATES AND GATEPIERS: coped random rubble boundary walls to E, S and W. High random rubble garden wall extending W from S byre with gateway enclosing court to front. Handsome corniced gatepiers to E of house with wrought-iron gate. Sandstone gatepiers with simple wrought-iron gate to W wall of garden.

Statement of Special Interest

A good, and relatively unspoilt example of the 2-storey, 3-bay Ayrshire farmhouse, occupying a prominent position on Aiket Road. Loanhead farm changed hands in 1829, so it is likely that the current house was built soon after that date. The farm itself, however, is much older, and is shown on Roy's Military Map of 1747, marked as 'Lonehead'. The 2-storey section adjoining the South gable of the main house may be the remains of an earlier house (probably circa 1800). This is substantiated by the position of the East gatepiers, which one would expect to be opposite the front door of the main house, but which are actually more in line with this lower wing. The South byre is probably contemporary with this wing. The North byre, which has a much deeper plan, is probably contemporary, or even slightly later than the main house.

Loanhead's proximity to Aiket Castle has given rise to the assumption that it was the home farm for the castle. This does not appear to have been the case. According to a history of the Dunlop family (see References), Loanhead belonged, in the mid-18th century to James Dunlop, second son of John Dunlop of Borland. It is not clear whether James Dunlop inherited Loanhead from his father (which would make it originally part of the Borland estate), or from another relation, or whether he bought it. It was James Dunlop's son, also James, who sold Loanhead in 1829.

References

Bibliography

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.