Description

Circa 1785. 2-storey, rectangular-plan, colonial style house, made L-plan by single storey service wing projecting from NW angle (similar wing at NE angle demolished earlier 19th century), 5-bay with twin bows. Harled rubble, grey slate roof. Windows mostly 12-pane sash and case with painted ashlar margins; flat coped skews with skew blocks; end stacks.

S ELEVATION: steps to suprisingly modest central door with slab canopy; 2 full-height bows at left and right, modillioned wallhead cornice; gable of service wing recessed at far left, tripartite window (outer sections narrower and blind).

E GABLE: bipartite window at ground floor right, window at single storey lean-to at far right.

W ELEVATION: gable to main building at right blank; service wing advanced at left, 3 windows (2 with unsympathetic modern glazing), piended roof at right; drystane garden wall projects from NW angle.

N ELEVATION: stair window at centre, window at 1st floor left and right; ground floor masked by full-width single storey lean-to with window at centre flanked by projecting rounded bays, each with window; door at far right in lean-to adjoining projecting single storey service wing, 2 doors and 2 windows (1modern) facing E.

INTERIOR: original doors and shutters; some original chimneypieces with 19th century inserts; plain moulded cornices; geometric stair, stair window border glazed with stained glass.

GATEPIERS AND ADJOINING WALLS: 2 semi-octagonal, droved gatepiers with moulded caps; flat-coped drystane walls adjoining.

Statement of Interest

This house was built on or near the site of Strathmartine Castle by Captain David Laird following service in the Royal Navy during the American War of Independence. There is no positive trace of the site of the castle. The castle is marked on Edward's map of 1678 and mentioned as a 'good house' in Ochterlony. Laird improved the estate and erected new cottages; the greatly altered row to the N of the steading probably date from the late 18th century.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17778866

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)