Details |
Museum, built in 1842 and designed by Thomas Mackenzie, with additions in 1896 and alterations and additions by A Marshall Mackenzie and Son, 1920. Founded by the 'Morayshire Literary and Scientific Association'. The building is Italianate with didactic overtones, and is constructed from polished ashlar that is channelled at ground floor and plain above. It rises two storeys, and there is a three-stage square pyramid roofed tower with three round chimneys linked by coping. On the South elevation of the tower, the first floor window with has a blind balustrade below, with pilaster strips and a bracketted cornice. There is a lunette at the base of the third stage, with three tall round-headed windows above, the 2 outer two of which are blind. The East elevation is the same as the South, but the first floor window and lunette is blind. The tower contained the custodian's quarters, but is now gutted, and is located on the East side of the square central entrance porch. The central porch is situated on the South gable, and has three tall round-headed windows above a moulded cill course, with a band course continuing across the tower. There is a single-storey wing to the West with a lunette clerestory to the North and South. The hall to the North was added in 1896, and is constructed from rubble and has a top light. The Museum Hall was added in 1921. It is single-storey, and constructed from ashlar, with some channelled pilasters and a corniced entrance on the South elevation. Inside, the original main hall has a gallery on three sides, and is approached by a T-plan staircase that is near to the original colour scheme, and restored in 1979.
|