Building record MAB34104 - MONALTRIE HOUSE, BALLATER

House, formerly known as Ballater House, dating from 1782 with later additions.

House, formerly known as Ballater House, dating from 1782 with later additions. Built by James Robertson, master mason. On the OS 1st edition map, Monaltrie House is shown within a designed landscape (NO39NE0164) to both northeast and southwest, including a nursery to the east, a walled garden with sundial to the northeast, offices, gate lodge (NO39NE0163) and kennels to the far northeast. It is shown to be separated from Ballater by the railway line to the southwest. There is little change on the OS 2nd edition map, except for the gradual expansion of the town of Ballater from the southwest into the woodland of the designed landscape. The listing building covers the low 2-storey, 9-bay, piend-roofed mansion, formerly rectangular with a large enclosed courtyard. It was altered in the early 19th century to its present form. Centre battlemented bow front with blind side windows, small square centre windows are flanked by big tripartites at first floor. The end bays are slightly advanced and battlemented. The well house is a simple rectangular structure with a pyramidal roof. Parallel office range at back with pyramid-roofed raised centre and ends. During WWII the stables were used by the Indian Cavalry Regiment stationed in Ballater. The buildings traditional character is also displayed through its harled exterior and piended slate roof. The history of the building is closely linked with that of the Farquharsons of Monaltrie, who lived in the house in the nineteenth century. Francis Farquharson was responsible for the development of the Pananich Spa, which was one of the major causes of the creation of Ballater Burgh. The mansion has lost some of its original grandeur and had fallen into dereliction by the 1970s, resulting in the loss of almost all of the interior. It has since been extensively renovated. Old photos show that the buildings used to enclose a courtyard, the rear range has now been mostly demolished. Several openings have also been altered, the main entrance was originally in the centre of the bow window, and various windows are now blind, notably the side windows of the bow.

Period Notes
Built 1782; altered 1810. Listed 16/04/1971.

PETER MCGOWAN ASSOCIATES, 2013, CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK, HISTORIC DESIGNED LANDSCAPES PROJECT - SITE RESEARCH REPORT: 21 MONALTRIE HOUSE (BALLATER HOUSE) (Bibliographic reference). SAB5431.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, GLENMUICK 5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, 778 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Record last edited

May 17 2024 1:10PM