Building record MAB3407 - DALVEY HOUSE, FORRES

Georgian mansion built in circa 1810, with extensive additions by Peter Fulton, Forres, in 1897.

Georgian mansion built in circa 1810, with extensive additions by Peter Fulton, Forres, in 1897. It is a 2-storey structure over a raised basement, that is south facing with five bays, and the centre three bays are under an open pediment, with 2-bay return elevations. The 1897 extension is continuous with the west return gable, and of a similar height, with a symmetrical 5-bay west front forming the overall L-plan mansion. Tooled ashlar is used throughout, with tooled and polished ashlar dressings. The south front has a centre entrance, reached by a perron oversailing raised basement. A corniced doorpiece with paired Roman Doric columns supporting entablature is decorated with bucrania and swagged urns. There is a radial fanlight and panelled door. The centre first floor has a keystoned Venetian window, with engaged reeded Ionic pilaster jambs and scroll blocked cill. There are moulded architraves to flanking windows in bays 2 and 4, and plain margins to fenestration elsewhere. The outer bays are delineated by giant Pilasters, and three swagged urns surmount the pediment, linked at the wallhead to end dies by the balustrade. 12-pane glazing is used, and there are end wallhead stacks and a piended platform slate roof. The west wing is dated to 1897. There are symmetrical five bays to a pedimented façade. There is a wide centre bay slightly advanced, with angle pilasters projecting a 6-light window at the basement and the raised ground floor. The keystoned attic window has a dated segmental pediment, 2-pane glazing is used. There are corniced stacks, and a piended platform slate roof. A substantial 2-storey porch at the north has a glazed first floor and piended roof. The entrance is faced with a Doric pilastered door, and there is a Venetian window above, penetrating into a pediment. A well lies in front of the house, approached from below the entrance steps to the house by a gently descending, curved passage with a vaulted roof. The site was formerly the grange of the Pluscarden Abbey, and claimed that the well was the original water supply for the grange. Dalvey House was known as Grangehill until 1740. Site visit 2001 noted that there is no trace of the earlier grange on the front lawn. South of the house, the garden is retained by a substantial wall with architectural features which give it the appearance of having been part of an earlier building. The southwest corner appears to contain a vaulted chamber. Internally the raised ground floor of the early house has a centre entrance hall and drawing room (R), and dining room (L). The drawing room has a swagged frieze, with similar decoration to the corniced overdoors, beaded panelled doors, window shutters and dados. There is a carved white painted chimneypiece, with an overmantel from circa 1900, and coloured marble slips to the modern grate. The dining room has beaded panelled doors, dados and window shutters. A buffet recess is flanked by reeded Corinthian pilasters. There is a swagged cornice with urns and bucrania, and a carved chimneypiece with dark marble slips and an original basket grate. The stairhall and staircase were completely re-modelled in 1897, although the cornice survives. The sitting-dining room in the 1897 wing was formerly a nursery suite. There is a decorative plaster cornice, panelled doors and window shutters, a deep bay window and high dado in the sitting area are linked to the chimneypiece. A 17th century dovecot with coat of arms is built into the garden wall.

Period Notes
Built in circa 1810, although previous notes state 1750-60, with additions in 1897. The site was designated on 26/01/1971.

SHAW, L, 1882, HIST OF PROV OF MORAY II, 209 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1627.

DOUGLAS, R, 1931, DOVECOTS OF MORAY, 18-19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB365.

BEATON, E, 1978, DOOCOTS OF MORAY, 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB87.

MCKEAN, C, 1987, MORAY: AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE, p.54 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1142.

BROWN, N, 1996, THE DOOCOTSOF MORAY - SECOND REPORT IN SUPPORT OF TRANSFER FROM MPHIL TO PHD COURSE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3770.

MIERS, M, 2000, Dream Houses of the improving lands, p.56-59 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4621.

SUAT, 2002, A GAZETTEER OF MONASTIC GRANGES IN SCOTLAND (Bibliographic reference). SAB1735.

Aug 17 2016 , AAS-GR-16-09-282 - 296, AAS-GR-16-09-282 - 296 (Ground Photograph). SAB35924.

Jun 11 2008 , AAS-GR-08-06-025 - 040, AAS-GR-08-06-025 - 040 (Ground Photograph). SAB36261.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, 3-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Record last edited

Nov 4 2022 10:52AM