Description

Later 19th century villa designed in the style of Alexander 'Greek' Thomson. Burnknowe is a large, asymmetrical, Italian Romanesque 2-storey house with a 3-storey tower/belvedere. It is a little altered example of the Thomsonesque style more usually found in the larger settlements located closer to the Clyde estuary. Burnknowe is architecturally the most imposing of the villas on Inverlounin Road. It arguably demonstrates a desire on the part of architect and client (both unknown) to look beyond the more typical pattern book architecture styles which proliferate in Lochgoilhead.

DESCRIPTION

The choice to use a strong classical architectural style was probably inspired by the numerous similar villas built around the Clyde estuary in the second half of the nineteenth century, designed by Thomson himself and by architects heavily influenced by his style, as in this case. Burnknowe has characteristic Thomsonesque features such as large bow window, and the tower to allow the best possible views of the loch. The massing of the house also reflects that of Thompson's villas, such as Craig Ailey, Cove (see separate listing). The windows are mainly round-headed, and arranged in groups of 3 or more to light the larger rooms. The overhanging eaves have mutule blocks; the very broad tower eaves are modillioned. The mullions of the windows are formed by classical colonnettes.

The rectangular, single storey, largely glazed room / entrance porch to the S side of the house appears on the 1st edition OS map, and so would seem to be original, or added shortly after completion, although the glazing may have been altered. Internally, this room has timber columns to the corners, and timber cornicing and ceiling. Adjacent to this room is the bow-ended conservatory; a glazed structure has been shown on this site since the 1st edition OS map, but appears to have been altered or replaced by the current structure in the late 19th century.

INTERIOR

There is cornicing of varying complexity, two columned timber chimneypieces to the principal ground floor rooms and most of the original doors and architraves remain. The stair is painted timber with turned balusters and newel posts. Several windows and some doors are glazed with leaded glass, some of which is painted, all produced by MacFarlane and Co, of Glasgow. The style of this glass is Arts and Crafts and it may have been fitted when other alterations and additions were taking place in the late 19th century. To the rear of the house, the service rooms such as the pantry, scullery and laundry room remain, lined with glazed bricks.

MATERIALS

Harled with narrow painted margins. Mainly timber sash and case windows with 2 or 4 pane glazing; multi-pane glazing to conservatory and glazed porch. Pitched slate roof with some graded slate. Mainly corniced gable head and wallhead stacks with octagonal cans.

BOATHOUSE

2-storey boathouse, much original material replaced, but retains balustered timber gable, weather vane and some original windows with coloured margin panes.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17772109

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

• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)