Building record MAB6545 - INNES HOUSE

Traditional style mansion house with Renaissance details.

Traditional style mansion house with Renaissance details. A detailed analysis of the structure in 1998 discovered that its history is far more complex than previously suggested. It also highlights the common practice of Scottish landowners sticking to the original site wherever possible, and thriftily adapting the structures already in place. The fabric of the house revealed that the ancient structure of the original building remains within. It has been cleverly concealed by the architect William Ayton, who did major reconstruction work in 1640-53 for Sir Robert Innes. The master mason for this work was William Ross. This remodelling took so long due to Sir Robert Innes' involvement in the Civil Wars, including the house allegedly being damaged by Montrose in February 1645 during this reconstructing work. The house was again badly damaged by fire in 1739, and was unoccupied for some time after, possibly until as late as 1754. The house was sold in 1767 to the James Duff, 2nd Earl of Fife, who had James Robertson add service wings in 1768-9, although they were later removed. A courtyard at the rear was added soon after 1857, and is entered through a re-used archway from circa 1770. It was sold to Frank Tennant in 1912, who had architects Walker and Duncan build a new North entrance forecourt in 1914-16. They also constructed a 2-storey and attic East Wing that is linked to the main house by a 2-storey, 2-bay passage range. It is in a style sympathetic to the main house. The house itself is constructed on a variation on an L-plan, and is three and a half storeys, with a five storey tower in the re-entrant angle. Oyster coloured harling is used, with ashlar dressings and margins. Floors are delineated by string courses, lowered beneath the windows, and all windows are pedimented, the pediments, some of which are from circa 1912, have tympanums bearing initials and dates. The fenestration is regular. There are diamond-shafted chimneys at the gables, and pinnacled skewputts. The tower has a pierced wallhead parapet, with pinnacles at three angles and a conical-roofed caphouse at the North-West angle. Inside, there is a vaulted ground floor, a large first floor ballroom, formerly the first floor hall, with no original fittings and 1912 panelled doors. There were said to have been two dovecots in 1765, but there is now no trace or local knowledge. The house is now divided into flats. It is sitting within a designed landscape (NJ26SE0112).

Period Notes
Berowald received charter for the land 1157. There is the implication of a castle at this site in 1540s from an illustration. Current house constructed in 1640-53 using the older structure. There was fire damage in 1739. It was sold in 1767, and service wings added in 1768-9, although they were removed by 1870. A courtyard was added in 1857 using an archway from circa 1770. Sold again in 1912, and shortly afterwards the North entrance forecourt and East wing were constructed. It was designated on 26/01/1971.

BILLINGS, RW, 1852, BAR & ECC ANT OF SCOT IV, PART III,ILL. (Bibliographic reference). SAB89.

WATSON, J, 1868, MORAYSHIRE DESCRIBED, 94-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2003.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 202-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

ROBERTSON, A. N., 1961, OLD DOVECOTS OF SCOTLAND, 381 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1503.

TRANTER, N, 1970, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, 128-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1918.

MCKEAN, C, 1987, MORAY: AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE, p.106-107 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1142.

INNES HOUSE

Aug 11 1986 , AAS/86/03/S4/20, AAS/86/03/S4/20 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB30515.

Jul 2 1992 , AAS/92/03/S9/12, AAS/92/03/S9/12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31091.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, URQUHART 6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 05/07/80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 20/10/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Record last edited

Jul 28 2022 2:17PM