Leys Castle

Heritage listing

Category A Date Added 05/10/1971 Local Authority Highland Planning Authority Highland Parish Inverness And Bona NGR NH 68008 40986 Coordinates 268008, 840986 — Samuel Beasley, 1833. Imposing Tudor Gothic mansion with both Gothic and Romanesque detailing. 2 storeys with central square tribune tower rising single storey above roofline, over raised basement. SE entrance front and NW garden elevation. Polished and tooled ashlar. Turretted entrance front stepping forward from outer octagonal turrets to projecting porte-cochere with tall slender intermediate turrets. Garden and side elevations with canted bays full height with oriel to garden with diminutive lantern finials marking central garden front. Double string courses between ground and 1st floors. Varied fenestration, mainly hoodmoulded some windows with 4-centred arched pointed-heads; 7-light tripartites and bipartites with Y-tracery; multi-pane glazing, some intersecting astragals. Corbelled and crenellated wallheads masking shallow piended slated roofs; symmetrical batteries of tall stacks; original rainwater goods, principal heads decorated with embossed boarheads. Garden terraces; terraces with carved ashlar balustrades front SE return elevation and descend to garden. Terrace fronting raised basement at NW lowered in 1930 to provide internal light, revealing complete fenestration. Interior; wide entrance hall with ashlar chimney piece with chevron detailing and original hearth. Centre stairhall rises 3 storeys through galleried tower; decorative corbesl to gallery with cusped balustrade. Cusped ashlar balustrade to imperial stair with tall chimney piece with chevron and ball decoration at half landing. Drawing room; white and gold decoration; ogee doorpieces; panelled doors and window shutters; Gothic detailing t

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.