Building record MAB17727 - DUNECHT HOUSE

Mansion House, built around a courtyard with outer court to the north and terraced garden to the south, within a designed landscape (NJ70NE0136).

Mansion house, built around a courtyard with an outer court to the north and terraced a garden to the south, within a designed landscape (MAB17791). The house (and the south lodge) was originally built in 1820 by John Smith, in Neo-Greek style, as a 2-storey basement and attic square block with a Greek Doric porch and bow, both now removed. This was incorporated when the house was extended by John and William Smith for the Earl of Crawford, forming a large 2-storey and basement Italianate mansion. It is 2-storey with bay windows with the top parapet balustraded at the bays, and a four-storey Italianate tower at the junction with the old house. There was a porte-cochere at the east end, which was removed in 1877 and re-erected as a loch-side ornament (MAB17817). In 1867 G. E. Street was commissioned to alter the facade and add a chapel and library to the house, both built in the 'Lombardic' style and both barrel-vaulted. Lord Crawford died in 1881 and building work stopped.

The house contains a long gallery with a compartmented ceiling and centre chimneypiece with wood carving of the Grinling Gibbons school. The billiard room has an English 15th Century screen, gallery, chimneypieces, and panelling. The stalls (Street 1877) have inlaid walnut from Florence. The northeast chapel has 16th Century panelling.

The house was sold in 1900, and G. Bennet Mitchell was commissioned to design additions to the house, and estate improvements including the building of the village of Dunecht. Mitchell's conservatory was removed in later alterations between 1912 and 1920, at which time the terraces were added to the south of the house. The most recent work was undertaken between 1924-1925. During the Second World War it was in use as a hospital and convalescence home.

Period Notes
House and south lodge built 1820, large additions and gates at south lodge 1855-9; bay windows removed to lochside; library and chapel 1867, design for library exhibited and house enlarged and altered 1877-81; sold and alterations 1900, extensive additions including additions comprising boilerhouse wing, gates and lodges (northeast and northwest), terraces, loggia and gazebo 1913-17; tower, lodges, boathouse 1924-33; some internal remodelling and redecoration of chapel; western gates, Main Gates in Dunecht Village 1924-32.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 02/07/80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

EELES, FC, 1957, THE CHURCH AND OTHER BELLS OF ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 90 (1956-7) 130-60, p.148 (Bibliographic reference). SAB490.

ARCHIAL NORR, 2014, CONSERVATION PLAN FOR DUNECHT HOUSE, ABERDEENSHIRE, Conservation audit (Bibliographic reference). SAB5495.

Aug 10 1978 , AAS/78/3/CT42, AAS/78/3/CT42 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18817.

Feb 10 2011 , AAS/2011/1/DG3138-9, AAS/2011/1/DG3138-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13264.

Feb 10 2011 , AAS/2011/1/DG3145-6, 3148, AAS/2011/1/DG3145-6, 3148 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13265.

Feb 20 1992 , AAS/92/01/S1/2, AAS/92/01/S1/2 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14369.

Jan 26 1999 , AAS/99/02/CT2, AAS/99/02/CT2 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17141.

Mar 16 2000 , AAS/00/06/CT1, AAS/00/06/CT1 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12835.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, ECHT 22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., COUNTRY LIFE, 15/08/91 (Bibliographic reference). SAB276.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL XII, 738 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 17/07/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Oct 4 2007 , AAS/07/02/DG1896-902, AAS/07/02/DG1896-902 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19246.

Oct 4 2007 , AAS/07/2/CT1-16, AAS/07/2/CT1-16 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19286.

Sep 2 2008 , AAS/08/4/DG9807, AAS/08/4/DG9807 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18336.

Record last edited

Sep 28 2026 11:47AM