Cairness House

When 'The Howes of Buchan' was written good views of Cairness House could be obtained as one passed through the Lomnay area. However, since 1865 there has been considerable tree planting so that the house may now only be glimpsed from certain points along the Line. A good viewpoint is just south of the bridge carrying the road to West Strathellie over the Line. Evening sun makes it easier to identify the facade of Cairness

Evening sunlight lengthens the shadows on the Line by the Strathellie  bridge 

From this point about 100 yards south of the bridge Cairness may be glimpsed through the trees . The  building, which according to 'The Howes' , 'has some pretentions both to age and beauty was built from the designs of (James) Playfair and finished in 1799. The architecture is Grecian;and it is said that above £25,000 was expended in its erection. The main structure is of greenstone, quarried in Rora; but the porch is of Cairngall granite. The building was erected by Charles Gordon, Esq of Buthlaw....The interior of the house is a perfect specimen of art'

Last spring Grey Granite was able to visit Cairness, which is currently only open to the public by arrangement. There are 42 rooms, many of which have been restored and refurnished and are of considerable grandeur.  However,  Grey Granite was most impressed by the extensive replanting of trees in the grounds. This planting replicates the original planting using trees exactly matched to the original order to Dobbie's Tree Nursery. The current owners have expended enormous time, energy and finance on the restoration of the house which incorporates numerous Masonic symbols. Behind the neoclassical frontage is a semi circular courtyard  of offices designed so that the ground plan forms CH either for Charles Gordon or Cairness House. The most astonishing feature of the house is the Egyptian Room, decorated with fake hieroglyphs where again there is Masonic symbolism and a theory that Playfair, who died whilst working on the house, is buried beneath the floor. It has also been suggested that this room was used for the Masonic meetings.

The semi circular suite of offices to the rear of the house, the entrance is below the cupola. Each of the metal chimney pots, six on each stack was replaced by the current owners.

The front of the house is quite austere, a central block flanked  with pedimented porch and imposing steps by taller pavilions. The building of the house was financed by the income from the Gordon's plantations in Jamaica.