Blairquhan (also known as Blawhane, Whiteford, Whitefoord)

The following is from the Historic Environment Scotland Gardens and Designed Landscapes Inventory. For the most up-to-date Inventory entry, please visit the Historic Environment Scotland website:

The designed landscape makes a distinctive contribution to local scenery with early 19th century parkland and specimen trees, a late 19th century arboretum and early 20th century extensive amenity woodlands incorporating deciduous trees planted in 17th and 18th century.

Location and Setting

Blairquhan is situated in upland country, some 5 miles (8km) south-east of the town of Maybole in Ayrshire. It lies to the west of the village of Straiton and is bordered by the B7045 to the north and the B741 to the south. The house stands on the southern escarpment of the Vale of the Water of Girvan which meanders through a wide valley. The surrounding landscape is largely agricultural with some afforestation on the hills, particularly to the north- east of Blairquhan. Good views to the north and east across the river valley are obtained from the house. The best views of the house and park are obtained from the north; to the south, the view is obscured by woods along the roadside. The designed landscape makes a significant contribution to the local scenery.

The policies today extend from the woods along the B741 in the south, across the Water of Girvan, and include the parkland and afforested knowes on the south face of the valley up to the B7045. Sclenteuch Moor, Specs and Littleton Glen plantations are also areas of afforestation outwith this boundary but important outlying features of the designed landscape.

At the north-west corner of the site, the estate has been extended in recent years to include the walled garden and additional policy land of Cloncaird Castle. The boundary of the designed landscape in this area is defined by the boundary of the woodlands on either side of the drive. The north drive is itself an important feature of the design and follows the route of the river Girvan for three miles, crossing it by the William Burn bridge some two miles downstream from the house. The designed landscape today includes some 1,132 acres (458ha).

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

The house was built by William Burn in 1820-24; it was one of his early commissions. Previous designs prepared by J. Gillespie Graham in 1814 and Robert Wallace in 1818 were not implemented. The house was built slightly to the south of an earlier fortified building and incorporates features of 1576 within the kitchen courtyard. It is listed A.

The stables were also designed by William Burn. They are listed B and have recently been converted into three holiday flats and a house for estate staff. The Ice House lies to the east of the stables. The kennels date from the late 18th century and are listed B. The Glasshouse, built in 1820, the Gardener's Cottage, Blairquhan, and Girvan lodges are also of architectural interest and have recently been refurbished.

Blairquhan Bridge, listed B, was also designed by William Burn. The Old Bridge of Blairquhan, at the east entrance of the estate, is a single arch, stone, hump-back bridge, possibly 18th century, and listed B. The New Bridge, on the straightened section of road to Straiton, was built in 1820.

Colonel Hunter Blair's monument on Craigengower Hill is listed B. There are two sundials: one in the flower garden which is mounted on a high pedestal and another in the walled garden.

Parkland

The parkland today extends from the inner edge of the woods on the southern boundary, across the west drive, down to the Water of Girvan and across to King's Hill. To the west, it extends to the enclosure of Laigh Garphar Wood and includes the loch made by Sir David Hunter Blair (and used for fishing) and to the east along the edge of the river. The parks are grazed, with wooden fenced protection for trees.

General Roy's map of c.1750 shows an extensive area of woodland with diagonal rides running through it. A few remaining parkland trees and the Lime Avenue along the west drive to the house are remnants of this old woodland.

The majority of the park trees date from c.1820. Replanting of sycamore and oak has been carried out by Sir James Hunter Blair and by his son. A large clump has been planted in the park to the south of the house with beech, Scots pine, European larch and shrubs.

Woodland

Trees in the woodlands date mainly from c.1900 onwards with some of the deciduous trees planted in the time of the Whitefoord family (1623-1798) dispersed throughout, in particular the avenue on the north drive.

The woods of Blairquhan are a major feature in the designed landscape. Within the parkland, the woods are replanted with a view to amenity, using trees such as oak, beech, larch, Scots pine and the less usual softwoods such as Grand and Noble fir. The higher estate woodlands are nowadays planted mainly with Sitka and Norway spruce.

The Gardens

This garden to the west of the house was originally laid out at the time the house was built but the present planting was carried out by Mr James Hunter Blair's mother. It is an extremely exposed site and commands excellent views to the parks around the house. A sundial stands in the centre of the garden.

Walled Garden

Enclosed by walls on all but its south side, the walled garden is sited on a dip which runs west to east. The north and south areas of the garden slope towards this axis, enabling a total view of the garden from any high point. It was laid out by John Tweedie in 1816.

The north-west part of the garden is used as a tree nursery but flowers and vegetables are also grown. Laburnum and rose walks have recently been planted by Mr Hunter Blair along the west-east axis on the site of an original walk. Herbaceous borders run on either side of the north/south axial path. The paths used to be gravel but were converted to grass by Mr Hunter Blair's mother. The greenhouse was built about 1820; in the course of the present century, the original glazing has been replaced with larger panes but the building has otherwise remained in its original form. It commands the central position on the south-facing wall of the garden and is well stocked with a range of plants including Leptospermum and bottlebrush (Callistemon). Underground rooms below the glasshouse are thought to have been used for mushroom culture. The walled garden at Cloncaird Castle is now part of Blairquhan estate and is used for growing conifers.

Arboretum

The arboretum was begun by the present owner's great grandfather, Sir Edward, in 1858 on the site of the old orchard to the north of the walled garden and has been added to by successive generations since. It contains a fine and varied collection, mainly of conifers, most of which have been measured in 1931, 1954, 1970 & 1984, and the records have been compiled recently by Alan Mitchell.

A famous tree at Blairquhan is the 'Dool' tree, a large sycamore sited on the lawn to the east of the house; it appears on the 1st edition OS map and was used for execution by hanging after trial by the laird.

The pond, to the north of the arboretum, was put in by Sir David. Recent clearing of the Rhododendron understorey beneath the conifers has helped to make it more of a feature. A collection of hollies has been established by Mr Hunter Blair at the east end of the walled garden.