Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Architecture Notes
Event ID 804921
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Architecture Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/804921
ARCHITECT: James Playfair 1791-97
Mansion house: a late 18th century neo-classical house of the Boulle Ledoux school. Built for Charles Gordon, with money from his Jamaican plantations, of outstanding merit inside and out. Main block two-storey and basement five-window centre with three-storey advanced wings; tetra-style pedimented Roman-doric porch with steps and broken column pedestals; cast-iron columnar chimneys. Great two-storey hemicycle of offices to rear with gables having proto-Doriccolumns set in blind lunettes showing to main front; remarkable pend arch in semi-circle of voussoirs diminishing in depth to crown, cupola over, circular ice-house in court: very finely detailed throughout. Egyptian billiard room behind entrance hall. For sale and in desperate need of repair (1990). Sold in early 1990's and slowly being restored to original designs.
NMRS, MS/2059.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE
Scottish Record Office (now the National Archives of Scotland)
House to be built for Mr Gordon.
James Playfair sets out his business terms.
Letter
1790 GD 151/11/32
PLANS
EXTERNAL REFERENCES:
King's College Library, Aberdeen James Playfair - portfolio of 44 drawings
Soane Museum, London James Playfair - 11 drawings
R.I.B.A. Drawings Collection James Playfair 1793 - sketch for a lodge and gate
National Library - The Connoisseur, American Es. June 1955 p.242 - article on Egyptian taste.
Simpson and Brown Photographs
Box 2 album no.17
one photograph of stable court.
