Building record MAB39488 - FETTERCAIRN HOUSE

Fettercairn House.

Fettercairn House. The original house was a long rectangle of two storeys and attic lying north-northeast to south-southwest dated 1670 and the initials EM and GM, with a small addition at the south-southwest end of a square crowstepped projection on east-southeast flank which originally contained a spiral stair. Now incorporated into large single-storey and basement Jacobean mansion with main frontage to the west-northwest, built in 1829. The main block has semi-symmetrical scheme with advanced 2-storey entrance tower with octagonal angle turrets. The south-southwest frontage has large bay with shaped gable over addition, old gable recast with square ogee turrets. The rubble work of the old house has been left exposed while the new work is of red ashlar. The east addition at right angles to the old house was built in 1877. It is 2-storey and attic with circular conical-roofed tower and shaped gables. The house has an interesting interior with a high rib-vaulted entrance hall, ribbed stair ceiling with lantern light. The drawing and dining rooms have ribbed ceilings, the former more elaborate with a caryatid chimneypiece. The library in the old house has an enriched frieze designed by Robert S Lorimer, 1898. A walled garden is attached to the east wing of the house. The original house was built for John, Earl Middleton and Grizel Durham, the new house begun for Sir William Stuart Forbes and completed for his son Sir John H S Forbes. To the south of the house is a walled garden and woodland walks.

Period Notes
S wing dates from 1666; rest of house built 1826-9 and 1877. Listed 18/08/1972.

CAMERON, AC, 1899, HISTORY OF FETTERCAIRN, 160 (Bibliographic reference). SAB214.

TRANTER, N, 1970, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, No4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1918.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, FETTERCAIRN 16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Record last edited

Nov 26 2020 10:56AM