John Kinross’s richly carved manor house combines Cotswold Elizabethan imagery with local stone and a commanding seaside-villa setting.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1898–1900
- Architect / designer
- John Kinross
- Type
- Cotswold Elizabethan manor house
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB1375)
- OS grid reference
- NT 53688 85487
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
Rattlebag stone, steep gables, mullioned windows, strapwork, heraldry and full-height bays create a picturesque but carefully controlled composition. A former service range and motor house complete the domestic hierarchy.
Its story
Paper manufacturer James Craig commissioned John Kinross to design Carlekemp at the end of the nineteenth century. The house later served as a wartime convalescent home and a Roman Catholic school before conversion into separate residences.
Why it is included
Category A status, exceptional craft detail and an unusually rich sequence of private, medical, educational and residential uses make Carlekemp nationally significant.
What to notice
- Strapworked entrance and carved heraldic panels.
- Cotswold-style gables and mullioned windows.
- Contrast between principal house and former service end.
Reading the surroundings
Carlekemp is private residential property. Appreciate it only from lawful public space, do not enter drives, gardens or shared areas, and avoid photography that intrudes on residents.
Timeline
- 1898–1900 John Kinross designed and completed the manor house for James Craig.
- 1914–18 The property served as a convalescent home for army officers.
- 20th century Roman Catholic educational use introduced a new institutional phase.
- By 2026 The former manor house had been converted into private flats.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The subdivision and occupancy of private flats can change; no access or internal survival is assumed beyond designation evidence.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Carlekemp, LB1375 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Carlekemp — Independent HES-linked building record for date, type and architect.
Location
OS grid reference NT 53688 85487 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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