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Summary

Description

A compact, symmetrical two-storey and raised basement, three-bay, rectangular-plan vernacular classical mansion house, built around 1800 within four hectares of coastal ground on the south side of Sandford Bay, between Peterhead and Boddam.

The house is constructed of red and pink Peterhead granite (rendered and painted white) with pale ashlar quoins and margins, basecourse and moulded cornice. The principal (west) elevation has a raised ground floor with Serlian (Venetian) window openings flanking an advancing central bay with an architraved doorway. The door is fronted by a platt with eight steps and a later 19th-century porch addition. A round-arch opening at the upper level is flanked by mullioned tripartite openings and surmounted by a triangular pediment with three carved urn finials. A pair of tall and broad chimney stacks join the wallhead to the north and south elevations. A full-height, bowed stair outshot rises at the centre of the rear (east) elevation.

A substantial walled garden (listed separately, LB16365) is located to the immediate north of the house.

The piended roof and interiors of the house were destroyed by fire in 2015.

Historical Development:

The Gordon family (Earls of Aberdeen) acquired the lands of Boddam during the 18th century. Sandford Lodge, on the south side of Sandford Bay, is described as 'the mansion house of the Boddam Estate' in the revised edition of Pratt's Buchan (1901).

The 1811 edition of the Traveller's Guide Through Scotland identifies a house at this location as 'Invernettie Lodge - Robertson Esq' (p.435). Baillie Robert Robertson (1761-1832) was proprietor of the estates of Boddam and Sandford during the early 19th century (Gordon of Sandfordhill, PD2/G/13). Around 1800, Robertson became Baron-Baillie of Peterhead, chairman of the Trustees of Peterhead Harbour, and a Justice of the Peace for Aberdeenshire (Grant, p.64).

A proprietor's house identified as 'Invernetty Lodge' occupies the site of Sandford Lodge on James Robertsons' Topographical and Military Map of Aberdeenshire (surveyed 1810-22).

In 1833, an advertisement for the sale of the estates of Boddam and Sandford notes the mansion-house on the south side of Sandford Bay could be put in good repair at little expense, and that its gardens are in full bearing. A new boundary between the lands of Boddam and Sandford is also mentioned (Aberdeen Herald, 1833).

The Reverend Maxwell Gordon (husband to Baillie Robertson's daughter) sold the estates of Boddam and Sandford to the 4th Earl of Aberdeen in 1839 (Gordon of Sandfordhill, PD2/G/18/71). The house is identified as Sandford Lodge by 1840 when the newly appointed sheriff substitute for Aberdeenshire, James Skelton of Edinburgh (1799–1882) began residing there (Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1840).

In 1865, the Earl of Aberdeen sold Boddam and Sandford to civil engineer and contractor William Aiton of Glasgow (Dundee Courier, 1865).

The house, walled garden and grounds of Sandford Lodge are depicted in detail on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1868. The layout of the site and principal buildings has remained largely unaltered since that survey. The porch appears to have been added to the house prior to the Second Edition map of 1899.

Peterhead Power Station was constructed 400 metres to the south of Sandford Lodge during the 1970s. The house and grounds fell out of use after 2006 when the site was acquired by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE). A single storey addition at the rear was removed in 2010. The house lost its roof and interior following a fire in 2015.

Statement of Special Interest

Sandford Lodge (LB16364) meets the criteria of special architectural or historic interest for the following reasons:

• For its compact design with distinctive vernacular / neo-classical architectural proportions and detailing.
• For its group interest with the adjacent walled garden (LB16365), each contributing to the special interest of the other.
• Despite later development, the coastal setting adds a picturesque quality to the two buildings, which would have been a consideration in the siting of the mansion house and garden in around 1800.
• As a major surviving example for its period and style.
• As evidence of the social and industrial development of Peterhead and its surroundings in around 1800.

Architectural interest

Design

The compact classical proportions and symmetry of Sandford Lodge is consistent with late 18th and early 19th century designs for minor estate houses and summer residences occupied by landowners, proprietors, or high-status officials.

The house demonstrates characteristic vernacular neo-classical order in its architectural detailing, with an advanced pediment topped by three carved urn finials (in the early 18^th century Adam style), a raised basement and principal floor with large Serlian (Venetian/Palladian) windows, tripartite and round-arch openings at the upper level, and a pair of very tall and broad chimneystacks.

The walls of both the house and the walled garden are constructed of local Peterhead granite, which is nationally renowned for its quality.

While the roof and reworked interior of Sandford Lodge were lost in a fire in 2015, the greater part of the architectural massing, detail and character survive (2025).

Setting

The house and walled garden (listed separately) are set within landscaped grounds on the south side of Sandford Bay (formerly Invernettie Bay). The house is not visible from Peterhead but is prominent in views across Sandford Bay from Burnhaven.

Later 20^th century industrial development means that the wider setting of Sandford Lodge and walled garden has changed. The connection between the house and the sea has been partially interrupted by an earthwork bund to the east of the property, associated with the development of Peterhead Power Station (1973-79) which sits 400 metres to the south of Sandford Lodge.

While the wider setting has been altered through the introduction of industrial development, the house and walled garden contribute to their coastal setting, the picturesque quality of which would have been a consideration in the siting of the mansion house and garden in around 1800.

The layout of the grounds of Sandford Lodge has not changed significantly since the mid- 19^th century. The functional relationship between the house and walled garden remains clear.

Historic interest

Age and rarity

Houses and villas of this status were built in large numbers during the later 18^th century and early 19^th century as people invested in minor landed estates. While many such houses survive across Scotland, examples in the vernacular classical style with well-ordered symmetry and good-surviving classical features, such as at Sandford Lodge, are less common. The lack of later alteration to the buildings and their grouping is also increasingly rare.

Houses of similar age and status in the Peterhead area include Dales Cottage (LB16392), Berryhill House (LB16394) and Blackhill House (LB16395), while many other examples have since been lost.

The walled garden at Sandford is also of interest for its similar early date, and as a relatively rare example of a substantial walled garden located on the northeast coast of Scotland.

Social historical interest

Minor country and suburban residences such as Sandford Lodge reflect Peterhead's growth as a commercial trading harbour and centre of shipbuilding, an important fishing and whaling station, and a summer spa resort by around 1800 (McKean, 1990). The lands of Invernettie, Sandford and Boddom to the south of Peterhead were leased for agricultural and industrial development from 1775 onwards, while the nearby quarry at Stirlinghill (part of the Boddom Estate) was renowned nationally for the quality of its granite.

Late 18th or early 19th century estate mansion-houses or summer residences of this stature were constructed by or for prominent landowners, proprietors or town officials with significant social and economic connections with the local community.

The existence of a house and walled garden of this age and design in this location is evidence of the developing social and industrial importance of Peterhead and its environs around the turn of the 19th century.

Association with people or events of national importance

Sandford Lodge is the former residence of several individuals who achieved renown during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

From 1840 to 1870 Sandford Lodge was occupied by James Skelton (1799-1882), the Sheriff-Substitute for Aberdeenshire (Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1840; Scottish Notes and Queries, 1903). His son was the well-known author, essayist and lawyer Sir John Skelton (1831-1897) who wrote under the pseudonym Shirley. His collection of essays entitled 'Nugae Criticae' was written during his years at Sandford.

Civil engineer and railway / river contractor William Aiton of Glasgow purchased the lands of Boddam and Sandford from the Earl of Aberdeen in 1865 for 18000 pounds (Dundee Courier, 1865) after relinquishing his contract as a principal contractor on the construction of the Suez Canal (The Irish Builder, 1893). He lived at Sandford Lodge from 1870 until his death in 1893, during which time he continued the development of Boddam begun by Baillie Robertson in 1824, by enlarging the harbour and renewing the water supply, among other improvements.

The house had several further owners and occupiers during the 20th century including James Sutherland (1851-1933). His omnibus and haulage company based in Peterhead became the largest operator of passenger transport in north-east Aberdeenshire during his 23-year occupancy of the house.

While the associations with previous owners and occupiers contribute some interest under this heading, the degree to which this interest is currently evidenced in the buildings is not found to be of national importance.

References

Bibliography

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