£870,000 (Under Offer) Grantown-on-Spey, Highland, PH26
Banchory, St Nicholas House, 68 Station Road, Banchory, Scotland, AB31 5YJ
Web: www.struttandparker.com
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Closing date 12 noon Friday 26 September 2008 An imposing Edwardian house of great charm and authenticity within extensive grounds on the edge of Grantown-on-Spey
The approach to Kirkton is off the A95 via a slip road which is flanked by a stone wall with decorative stone pillars and gates. The drive winds through towering conifers and past Top Cottage ending in a gravel circle at the front of the house. Kirkton was built in 1926 with a harled exterior under a slated roof. The house has attractive sandstone effect window and door surrounds with a matching decorative course which surrounds the principal elevations of the property. Kirkton has attractive windows which are fully astragalled on the first floor and astragalled on the upper half throughout the ground floor. The house has overhanging eaves and decorative rainwater downpipes with lion's head, thistle and rose motifs. The front door is sheltered under a domed portico supported by 4 pillars. History Kirkton was built by Lorimer Cattanach in 1926 to a design by Cook and Hamilton, architects of Paisley. Lorimer Cattanach had made his fortune in the whisky business and retired to Grantown to build himself a prestigious home. Period Features Kirkton is a perfect example of Edwardian architecture and internally has been remarkably preserved since the house has remained in the Cattanch family since its construction. It is now being offered for sale for the first time. The house was built to the highest quality of construction at the time and has oak flooring throughout the ground floor and first floor landings and pitch pine flooring in the bedrooms. There is extensive oak panelling in the reception hall and an oak balustrade and handrail up the staircase. The original cast iron radiators are still fitted throughout the house and many of the original light fittings with their cut glass shades still remain. There are period fireplaces throughout the property. The kitchen and butler's pantry have original copper sinks and throughout the domestic offices there are period fixtures such as dressers and shelving. Original layout The original architect's plans dated May 1925 give a fascinating insight into the construction of an Edwardian family home. As well as the architectural plans there are working plans for the heating apparatus and plans showing the drains and the lighting of the house. There are plans of the original elevations and of the garden and grounds. Kirkton was designed by Lorimer Cattanach to house his wife and 2 children in considerable style and with excellent facilities for the staff. The pillared portico leads through a marble floored vestibule to the reception hall which has an open fire and gives access to a large cloakroom with separate WC and also a garden entrance with a flower room. The principal reception rooms were listed as the smoking room which has its original fireplace, the drawing room again with original fireplace and ornate plaster panelling above a dado rail. The lounge, was the largest reception room and is today a beautiful double aspect corner room with its original light fittings. The dining room has a fireplace and the original sideboard recess and has a glazed door which gives access onto a more recent conservatory with a large sliding window opening onto the garden. The Cattanach family were looked after by 6 staff including the butler, the cook and 4 maids. The Edwardian kitchen retains its original copper sink and many fixtures from the period as does the butler's pantry. There is a large servant's hall and numerous domestic offices including a boiler room, a boot room, a larder and a brushing room. Integral to the house is a large garage for 4 cars, divided into an outer garage with sliding, part-glazed hardwood doors and an inner garage accessed through a metal roller door. On the first floor Mr & Mrs Cattanach had their own bedroom, with dressing room and bathroom and off the upper hallway were Master Archie's bedroom and Miss Mary's bedroom. Adjacent to this was the schoolroom and a bathroom and a room for the children's maid. The original design shows 2 spare bedrooms and a bathroom for guests and in the servant's wing 2 sizeable bedrooms with fireplaces for the cook and butler and smaller bedrooms (without fireplaces) for the maids. All 6 staff shared one further bathroom. In Lorimer Cattanach's time, the garden and grounds of Kirkton must have been quite spectacular and the outline is still visible today, although the garden is now mostly overgrown. The approach to the house is flanked by a large, clipped beech hedge and this is replicated round the 4 sides of the half acre kitchen garden. On the east side of the house decorative stone steps led to a garden walk through rhododendrons and to the tennis court with a period pavilion and down to the kitchen garden. The south side of the house had extensive flowerbeds and a rose garden with decorative stone edging. On the west side of the house there were further clipped hedges including a delightful enclosure for afternoon tea. The grounds of Kirkton were planted with specimen conifers and hardwoods and small enclosed paddocks were retained for livestock. A walkway led from the house to the kitchen garden which had a greenhouse and fruit trees and areas for soft fruits and vegetables together with herbaceous borders and areas of lawn. With a little imagination and hard work these delightful gardens and grounds could once again be reinstated to their former glory.
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Property: Grantown-on-Spey, Highland, PH26
Grantown-on-Spey, Highland, PH26
£870,000
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Train: Carrbridge - First ScotRail (7.7 miles approx.)
Carrbridge - First ScotRail
7.7 miles -
Train: Aviemore - First ScotRail (11.6 miles approx.)
Aviemore - First ScotRail
11.6 miles -
Train: Forres - First ScotRail (20.2 miles approx.)
Forres - First ScotRail
20.2 miles -
Primary school: Grantown Primary School (1.5 miles approx.)
Grantown Primary School
1.5 miles -
Secondary school: Grantown Grammar School (1.7 miles miles approx.)
Grantown Grammar School
1.7 miles
- All property types:
- £131,041 *
Strathspey North East, Highland Reset Map
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Property reference spbc_BAN080071.
Details provided and maintained by STRUTT & PARKER, Banchory. Countrylife.co.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of these details.
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Download as PDFProperty Features
- 11 Bedrooms
- 3 Bathrooms
- 4 Receptions
- House
- Period
- Detached
- Garden
- Land
- Rural
- Staff/SC Accomm
- Fair Decoration
- Freehold
