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Invercauld House, possibly built on the site of an earlier house. The present building is an impressive Scots Baronial style house with 17th century origins but largely dating to the 18th and 19th centuries. It is probable that the only remaining 16th century section is the vaulted basement under the tower. Additions to the house in 1674-79 transformed what was a defensive structure in to a more comfortable residence which was described by the Earl of Mar in 1715 as being a 'suitable place for residence, and commodious'. It is an extended Z-plan in form, 3-storey and attic, multi-gabled and turreted, with a courtyard open to the north. There is a large, dominant, 6-storey castellated square tower to the north and a square, single storey, corbelled and crenellated corner entrance porch to the southeast with a pyramidal roof, Tudor arched entrance and very battered base course. The house is constructed of coursed pink and grey granite, with crow-stepped gables, and is corbelled and crenellated with candle-snuffer roof turrets. The interior has a complex internal plan, with some outstanding public rooms and abundant original features. There is a broad, shallow tread, finely detailed, timber entrance stair with carved lions to the newels. The drawing room has a plaster strapwork ceiling with decorative cornicing and a large white painted Gothic style chimneypiece and overmantle, with corresponding Gothic architrave. The timber panelled dining room has a segmental arch stone chimneypiece. There is a classical style timber chimneypiece and overmantle in the library and integral wall-height timber bookcases. In the hall is a timber Jacobean chimneypiece with obelisk decoration, and stained glass with Farquharson crest. Seat of the Farquharsons since the 14th Century. The Jacobite chiefs were said to have met at the house in 1715 to arrange their plans. Queen Victoria was a frequent visitor to the House during her periods of residence at nearby Balmoral. Listing changed from Category from B to A in 2006.
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Historic Environment Records (HER)