Cairness House
Cairness House is a manor house near the Scottish village of St Combs in the Council Area of Aberdeenshire . In 1971 the structure was included in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A. Furthermore, the South Lodge with the gate access is classified separately as a Category A building. The associated gardens are also protected as a Category C structure. The individual buildings are also combined to form a category A monument ensemble. The entire property is on the Scottish Landscaping Register . The highest rating “outstanding” was awarded in two out of seven categories.
history
The Cairness property has been known since the 16th century at the latest . On Roy's military maps from the mid-18th century, a small house is recorded at the location. Charles Gordon of Buthlaw , whose family was wealthy and active in trade with Jamaica , inherited the property from his uncle in 1775. Two years later, the development of the park began. After Gordon bought a sugar cane plantation in Jamaica in 1781, he commissioned the planning of Cairness House. He entrusted the Scottish architect Robert Burn with this . The manor and gardens were set up in the same construction phase . As a result of his economic success, Gordon commissioned plans for a larger mansion as early as 1784, but they were never carried out. Instead, in 1789, he commissioned James Playfair to expand Cairness House. Between 1791 and 1797 the house was revised and expanded according to Playfair's specifications. Today it is one of his most important works. During the same period, the landscape architect Thomas White was entrusted with the development of the park.
The property was inherited and developed within the family. The South Lodge with the gate driveway, which William Playfair had already planned, was built in 1891. The property was sold between the world wars and eventually fell to the War Office . Numerous trees and park structures fell victim to a storm on January 31, 1953. Since 1996 at the latest, work according to the original plans has been in progress, which should restore the original condition. Towards the end of the century the property changed hands. It was then restored. In 2009 the prize was awarded for the best restored Georgian country house in Great Britain.
description
Cairness House is isolated around 2.5 km southwest of the coastal town of St Combs and six kilometers southeast of central Fraserburgh . Its masonry consists of granite blocks . The south-facing main facade of the two-story, Georgian mansion is seven axes wide. A Doric portico with a triangular gable protrudes in the center. The corner projections are slightly higher and close with hipped roofs . At the rear, the building continues with a semicircular commercial and work wing.
The gate consists of two rusticated pillars with sphinxes on top . The pillars support the two-winged iron gate. Low walls with ornamented iron railings are continued on both sides, which connect the pillars with the lodges. The classically designed, single-storey buildings have square floor plans. They close with pyramid roofs .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ a b c Garden and Designed Landscape - entry . In: Historic Scotland .
Web links
- Entry on Cairness House in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
Coordinates: 57 ° 38 '17.4 " N , 1 ° 56' 15.2" W.