Scotland’s Most Important Greek Revival House Could Be Yours For £1.25M
This property is on the market with Knight Frank, accepting offers over £1.25M.
Considered one of the finest examples of Neoclassical architecture in Britain, Cairness House is described in the the Pevsner Architectural Guide as “of international importance as the only house in Britain, the design and construction of which reflected and evolved with the rapid advances in French Neoclassicism”.
Believed to be built upon the earlier structure from 1781-2 by Robert Burn, Cairness House was built between 1791 and 1797 to the design of Scottish architect James Playfair, inspired by the neoclassical architecture of Europe witnessed on Playfair’s ‘Grand Tour’ in 1790.
The house was finished by the great British architect Sir John Soane, who adapted the design after Playfair's death in 1794.
Cairness House has wonderful original plasterwork throughout the grand 10 bedroom home, and features incredible detail in the reception rooms. The Egyptian Room is one of the earliest surviving of its type in the world and contains a number of hieroglyphic symbols, and the library, designed as an Etruscan room with its colours copied from ancient painted terracotta vases.
The Georgian Society prize was awarded in 2009 following an extensive long-term restoration programme of the house and grounds, which were laid out by Thomas White, a student of Lancelot “Capability” Brown.
The house offers a private setting in the countryside, approached along a long private drive offering lovely views of the house.
The property comes with several outbuildings behind the house, arranged in an attractive semicircle, as well as 2 gatehouses set at each property entrance, originally built by Playfair.
The 16 acre property is located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, just 2 miles from the coastal fishing village of St. Combs.
All photos belong to the listing agency.
