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Designed landscape and site of Relugas House. The house started as a tower house in 1785, although there may have been an earlier house on the estate. Shortly after 1808 the house was 'enlarged and beautified' by the poet, antiquarian and artist Thomas Dick Lauder, who had married the heir of Relugas. Significant agricultural improvements and tree planting were carried out at this time and a new bridge built over the River Divie. The 7th Baronet, Lauder, commissioned large additions to the house. The layout of the grounds and gardens is shown on a later plan of 1830. The house was described as having an Italian front and Italian tower raised above the offices. Relugas was devastated by floods in 1829. In the early part of the 20th century a rockery was created below the house and the stableblock partially demolished and converted to a gardener's house. After the First World War the house and policies went into decline, and the house was in poor condition by the start of World War II although it was used as a military shooting school during the war years. The house was demolished in 1957. The flower and vegetable gardens maintained their original location until circa 1960. In 1980 a new lodge was built on the site of the house and since then the policies have been partially restored and new gardens laid out around and below the house. Relugas is a fine example of the 'picturesque' style of landscape design. In the 19th century there was an extensive network of trails and footpaths along the valley sides, river's edge and around the 'Doune' (NJ04NW0004). One of the wooden crosses used as markers for the bounds of the Priory at Pluscarden Abbey (NJ15NW0006) is on these grounds.
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Moray
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NJ04NW0114 - RELUGAS