Michel Geeraert Fotografie
Dunalastair house
2-storey, square-plan Baronial mansion with 3-stage circular entrance tower, now roofless (1996).
Square rubble with ashlar dressings. Roll-moulded surrounds. Dividing string course; moulded eaves course.
Glazing removed. Evidence of some internal panelled shutters. Previously with grey slates (roof now collapsed). Decorative, billeted coping to diamond stacks. Wrought-iron finials to gableheads and conical roofs. The estate was formerly known as Mount Alexander. An earlier house was illustrated in Neale's Seats, but only the foundations of this remain at a different site. Heiton was the second of a dynasty of 3 generations: after training with his father, he spent time in the office of Burn and Bryce between 1842 and 1848, from whence he evidently acquired experience with Baronial design, leaving to provide a host of fine, imaginative compositions which stand up well in comparison with those of David Bryce. He is known for such masterpieces as Atholl Palace Hotel and Vogrie House, Midlothian. (Historic Scotland) The house was vacated in 1952, after having housed a school for Polish refugees.
July 2009: External inspection finds the building in ruinous condition. Some turrets are still slated but otherwise the roof has been lost. Internal floors have collapsed. All windows have been lost. The walls appear to be relatively stable. However, the building is surrounded by mature trees. Carved stonework remains very sharp, in most cases.
Square rubble with ashlar dressings. Roll-moulded surrounds. Dividing string course; moulded eaves course.
Glazing removed. Evidence of some internal panelled shutters. Previously with grey slates (roof now collapsed). Decorative, billeted coping to diamond stacks. Wrought-iron finials to gableheads and conical roofs. The estate was formerly known as Mount Alexander. An earlier house was illustrated in Neale's Seats, but only the foundations of this remain at a different site. Heiton was the second of a dynasty of 3 generations: after training with his father, he spent time in the office of Burn and Bryce between 1842 and 1848, from whence he evidently acquired experience with Baronial design, leaving to provide a host of fine, imaginative compositions which stand up well in comparison with those of David Bryce. He is known for such masterpieces as Atholl Palace Hotel and Vogrie House, Midlothian. (Historic Scotland) The house was vacated in 1952, after having housed a school for Polish refugees.
July 2009: External inspection finds the building in ruinous condition. Some turrets are still slated but otherwise the roof has been lost. Internal floors have collapsed. All windows have been lost. The walls appear to be relatively stable. However, the building is surrounded by mature trees. Carved stonework remains very sharp, in most cases.