Barr is a hidden gem of a property situated on a ridge overlooking Loch Fyne near Minard, in the heart of Argyll
Built by the Campbells of Knockbuie in 1842, Barr was originally home farm to nearby Minard Castle, supplying produce for the entire estate. It was named after the Gaelic word for hill-top, meaning height or a ridge, and is mentioned in the census of 1860 as a ‘very fine farmhouse’.
In the mid 20th century, the estate was broken up leaving ten acres of land and farm buildings, including the main Victorian house, the attached grieve’s (farm manager) quarters, which has subsequently been converted into an office, library and utility room, plus the farm cottage which was formerly part of the cow byre and bothy.
Restoration of the main house
When Victoria and her husband John bought Barr in 2012, the property had already undergone significant repair and remodelling in the ‘80s.
The original main entrance had become a garden exit at the rear of the property, which benefitted from magnificent views of the coastline, islands and Cowal peninsula, and the new main entrance was accessed through a discreet single storey courtyard.
An inspection by a structural engineer revealed that some of those earlier repairs had not completely mitigated historic structural problems and years of neglect meant that this needed urgent attention.
The following eighteen months were spent in a massive labour of love. The gable wall of the main house was pinned and stabilised, and the leaking chimney heads and west wall were repaired.
The interior of the farmhouse also required significant refurbishment, repainting, and redecoration throughout. The bathrooms and kitchen were upgraded, and the entire central heating system was replaced, including the open fire, which was swapped for a super-efficient multi-fuel stove.
Many areas required replastering, where the original lath and plaster was worn or water damaged, and rotten lintels were also replaced.
Radical refurbishment of the farm office
After completing the work on the main house, Victoria and John moved into the main house and focussed their efforts on the old grieve’s quarters, a space which had latterly been used as an office, larder and for storage.
It had been largely untouched for decades. The original 1840s flagstone floor, which had been laid directly on the earth, had to be removed, and the flags re-sized and re-laid on modern day foundations.
The internal structure was riddled with woodworm, the gap between the floorboards and ceiling still included wheat chaff as insulation, and the roof and rooflights leaked. All the unsound woodwork was removed, and essentially a new timber frame building was erected inside the old stonework. The area was brought up to modern building standards, with new insulation and vapour barriers, and the old slate roof was replaced.
As the two rooms above the farm office could only be accessed by a ladder a new staircase was added and the upper floor was reimagined as a light, bright mezzanine office space, where Victoria and John could run their management consulting business.
The owners were committed to using high quality materials and tradesmen throughout, including master plasterers skilled in decorative cornice work, and exceptional joiners, stone masons, plumbers and electricians all carefully sourced from the local area where possible.
Local builder Archd. Fergusson Ltd. from Strachur was appointed as the main contractor, liaising closely with Victoria as she project-managed the process.
Traditional bespoke replacement windows
An integral part of completing the restoration was sourcing suitable replacement timber windows.
The existing single glazed sash windows in the main house, which had been installed by the previous owner as a stopgap, were in desperate need of upgrading as they were draughty, noisy, and leaked during south-westerly gales. A few of them had also been subjected to experimental secondary glazing and could no longer be opened. The garden and main doors were also draughty, let in water and were becoming structurally unsound.
Archd. Fergusson Ltd. strongly recommended Allan Brothers, a doors and windows manufacturer with a reputation for traditional craftsmanship and in 2018 the company supplied 15 replacement timber sliding sash windows plus a new main door and a double opening garden door.
All the sash windows were made to measure to fit seamlessly behind the original working wooden shutters. Period features included, brass fittings, spiral balance and traditional astragal glazing bars, very much in keeping with the age and history of the house. The oversize doors were also bespoke.
“It was very important to us to restore our home in a sensitive and sympathetic way, whilst bringing it up to modern building standards,” said Victoria.
“We were delighted with our new sash windows. We love their quality. They have a very traditional and authentic look, but they are also highly energy efficient, a huge plus as when the house is bathed in sunlight the solar gain warms the entire property. They are well worth the investment and should definitely stand the test of time.”