Basic Site Details

Name: Glen Tanar House
Town, district or village: Aboyne
City or county: Aberdeenshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: Demolished
Grid ref:
Notes: This originally was one of the little Scottish cottages; two rooms on ground floor and two attics in roof. The Earl of Southesk then had the shooting for a time, and erected a wing containing dining room drawing room and some bedrooms; but when Mr Brooks came these were all made into bedrooms, and in six weeks Mr Truefitt designed, and had three large reception rooms built, 30 feet by 22 feet each. As time was an object, these rooms were erected of timber, and harled outside; but they have since had an outer casing of granite. Another large wing has been built, consisting of servants’ hall, bedrooms etc, new kitchen department; and the old part of the building has been altered and added to, to make it agree with the new work. We here get a large verandah and porch combined in rustic work, and other bits of rustic work about the building. Internally the principal rooms have pine dados and panelled ceilings, and we notice in all the bedrooms ornamental glass of quaint design, every pattern different, and designed by the architect. The glass is in the lower panes of the sashes, and while it gets rid of the usual short white blinds, gives a cheerful effect to the rooms, and adds to the external general effect. Sitting and bedrooms are papered with tinted-glazed plain papers, of quiet tints, they do not therefore interfere at all with the pictures, engravings, water-colour drawings etc, with which the whole of the walls throughout the house are well covered. ... Carpets are the same everywhere - sitting rooms bedrooms and staircases. This adds greatly to the repose of the place. The bedrooms are purposely all small, but there are plenty of them. One idea was to keep the house as small in appearance as possible. ..... Wash-stands and dressing-tables, looking-glasses, and writing tables are all designed purposely, and mostly made fixtures. [Aberdeen Journal/Builder 19 September 1874 p791-792]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 2Glen Tannar House Alternative spelling
Item 2 of 2Glentanar HouseYes 

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Country House  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 51869c. 1872Build/construction 
Item 2 of 51898 AdditionGardens
Item 3 of 519061907 Alterations
Item 4 of 5Mid 1930s  Alterations
Item 5 of 51975  Demolition

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 10George Truefitt  1869c. 1872 
Item 2 of 10Thomas Hayton Mawson H1898 Commission obtained through Truefitt
Item 3 of 10Dan Gibson Kc. 1898 Associated with work here along with Mawson
Item 4 of 10Arthur John Fryers B19061907Alterations
Item 5 of 10Fryers & Penman B19061907Alterations
Item 6 of 10Larmont Douglas Penman B19061907Alterations
Item 7 of 10A Marshall Mackenzie & Son CMid 1930s Alterations
Item 8 of 10Alexander George Robertson Mackenzie CMid 1930s Alterations
Item 9 of 10Isobel Margaret Gordon (Mrs Adams) CMid 1930s Alterations - as assistant to A Marshall Mackenzie & Son (responsible for the design of bathroom tiles)
Item 10 of 10John Gibb Marr CMid 1930s Alterations

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 2Coats, George, later Lord Glentanar1905 alterations
Item 2 of 2Cunliffe-Brooks, Sir WilliamOriginal house and client for gardens

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Academy Architecture1907 part 1 pp70,71
Item 2 of 5Geddes, Jane2001Deeside and the Mearns: An Illustrated Architectural Guide Edinburgh: RIAS/Rutland Pressp120 (Truefitt)
Item 3 of 5Jamieson, David and Wilson, W Stewart2001Old Royal Deeside Stenlakep30
Item 4 of 5Sharples, J, Walker, D W and Woodworth, M2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire South and Aberdeen London and New Haven: Yale University Pressp513-4
Item 5 of 5Waymark, Janet2009Thomas Mawson: Life, Gardens and Landscape Frances Lincoln Ltd. Londonp231

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder19 September 1874  pp791-792

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSGeorge Truefitt at Glen Tanar 1875-85: photo album Original drawings. Album of sketches, photos & cuttings Acc No 1998/44
Item 2 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information on Marshall Mackenzie work (and Isobel Gordon/Adams's role in it) from Isobel Margaret Gordon's daughter Ishbel Barnes (email 21 August 2006).
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Larmont Douglas Penman: L v23 no1830 & F no2681 (box 10)