Callert House, Fort William and Ardnamurchan, Highland

Description

Circa 1800, classical mansion with considerable additions and alterations, mainly in Arts and Crafts manner, of circa 1900.

Circa 1800 house; 2-storey, 5-bay symmetrical house with

slightly lower, rectangular blocks set back as wings, at NE

and NW corners, with 2-bay elevations to south and 3-bay rear

elevation (to north) with centre doors (with considerable

later alterations). All squared grey granite, contrasting

pinnings and with contrasting polished ashlar dressings,

harl pointed rubble to rear.

Centre door with Roman Doric portico approached by 3 shallow

steps; double leaf panelled door (c.1900). All front windows hoodmoulded; 1 pair ground and 1st floor windows doubled in

NW wing; 1 ground and 1 1st floor blind window in east gable.

Moulded architraves; 12-pane glazing.

Base course; polished ashlar long-short quoins; eaves

cornice and blocking course; coped panelled end stacks;

piended platform slate roof. Circa 1900 additions. Extensive

additions and alterations, mainly in Arts and Crafts style

to outer wings and to rear of house. At SE a large 2-storey

harled wing with octagonal angle tower and with tall

bipartite in centre of front elevation; series of small

windows below eaves, south and west. Single octagonal tower

at corner of SW wing of mansion.

Extensive additions to rear; long 2-storey wing projects

at NW; further extensions block former centre doors of early

rear wings and link the latter to enclose small rear court.

2 canted bay windows rise full height at NW. Various

glazing, in south multi-pane upper sashes; to rear mainly

2-pane. Assorted stacks, including 2 unusual gablet apex

stacks to rear. Slate roofs. Interior; mainhouse ground floor

entrance hall and room to right (east) linked to form single

hall (late 19th century) with vestigal screens passage and

"Tudor" panelling and richly decorated plaster ceiling.

Some genuine 16th-17th century (re-set) panelling flanks

chimney piece which has Elizabethan (copy) family portrait

framed above depicting Fairfax-Lucy family of Charlcote.

Ashlar chimney piece with carved spandrels. Dining room (SW)

has c. 1900 chimney piece incorporating halved sedan chair.

Centre stair "Tudor" balusters and newels, panelled stairwell

and leaded and stained glazed stair window. Stair continues

to attic floor with original cast-iron balusters with

intertwined detailing.

1st floor rooms with heavy plaster ceilings with classical

egg and dart, anthemion and palmette motifs. Heavy grained

panelled doors with moulded and corniced door cases.

Circa 1900 additions have Arts and Crafts decoration.

Principal room in SE wing of 2-storey height, half panelled

and with massive white ashlar "inglenook" chimney piece

flanked by engaged columns with plaited design and capitals

(as lamp stands) decorated with weaving motif, heraldic

beasts in spandrels, all masking inner granite chimney piece.

Principal 1st floor bedroom with chimney piece with Dutch

tiled surround flanked by carved wooden panels, small box

seats and further carved heraldic insignia.

Statement of Interest

House said to have been built on site of previous dwelling

owned by Cameron of Fassifern (Fassfern).

A Cameron daughter married a Fairfax-Lucy of Charlecote,

Oxfordshire in late 19th century and later inherited

Callert, which has now passed to other owners. Mansion

empty and in poor condition; circa 1900 additions

deteriorating in particular.

Upgraded from Category B to Category A on 23rd January 2004

External Links

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