The Architecture of Overtoun House

Overview
The architecture of Overtoun house reflects the fashion of the times. In 1856 Prince Albert built Balmoral castle for Queen Victoria in the neo-Baronial style ('neo' meaning "new" and 'Baronial' a reference to houses of the past). It was not just Queen Victoria who loved the style but the whole of Victorian society was caught up with in nostalgia for Britain's mythical mediaeval past and Walter Scott's romantic retelling of Scottish history.

The Baronial style became the dominant architectural style in Scotland from the middle of the 19th century and vast numbers of country houses were built in this style (see sidebar). They certainly looked like castles of old with their turrets, towers and fake battlements but their purpose was not defensive, rather they were fashionable country homes for the wealthy.

Scottish Baronial buildings mixed architectural elements from many diverse sources including medieval castles and fairy tale French chateuex. Each house was unique, but the Baronial style is easily recognisable with it's towers, crow-stepped gables, and turrets. Let us look at some of the elements of Overtoun House that are typical of the Baronial Style.

Features of Overtoun House

Tower The tower was often intended to be the focal point of a Baronial house. Indeed James White, who made weekly visits to the site, insisted that the tower to the right, standing in front of the house, was raised by one floor less it not appear to dominate the house enough. It was also the most castle-like of it's features with it's corbelled battlements. The battlements are "crenelated" or notched (the notches in the parapet are "crenels" and the solid portions between them are "merlons").

Porte Cochem "Porte cochem" is a French term probably the origin of the English word 'porch'. This construction over the front door of the house enabled the family and guests to dismount from horses, carriages or later; motor cars, and enter the house sheltered from the elements, useful in Scotland.

Crow-Stepped Gables A "gable" is the triangular upper half of a wall at the end of the roof. "Crow-stepped" refers to the stair- like shape of the gable.

Bartizan A "bartizan" is a small turret corbelled out from a wall usually mounted on the top corners of a building. The turret is supported by a "corbel", a projecting bracket of stone built into a wall in a step wise construction.