General Details and Location
Category
RESTORATION IN PROGRESS
Name of Building
Cumbernauld House
Other Name(s)
Cumbernauld Castle; Cumbernauld Development Corporation
Address
Cumbernauld
Locality
Postcode (click to find nearby buildings)
Planning Authority (click to search)
Divisional Area (click to search)
Reference No
3213
Listing Category
A
OS Grid Ref
NS 77249 75904
Location Type
Rural
HS Reference No
24086
Description
Fine classic mansion house. Main block two-storey and basement with two-storey north wing. South wing not constructed. Rear semi-octagonal bay dated 1731. Gutted and internally reconstructed circa 1870.
Building Dates
18th century
Architects
William Adam
Category of Risk and Development History
Condition
Fair
Category of Risk
Minimal
Exemptions to State of Risk
Field Visits
27/05/2010, 05/02/2008, June 2001
Development History
June 2001: Site visit - the House is found to be in full use, not considered at risk. Continue to monitor.
October 2007: Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Advertiser reports on a public meeting being held to debate the future of the house, which is reported to be lying vacant since its owners, DH Morris, went into liquidation in March. Local councillor Tom Johnstone is reported to be campaigning for the house to form part of the new National Museum of Photography.
November 2007: Cumbernauld News reports on speculation that the property is about to be sold.
February 2008: External inspection reveals the building appears to be in good condition. There is a presence being maintained by the 'Friends of Cumbernauld House' whilst discussions are ongoing to find a new use for the House.
October 2008: Cumbernauld News reports on concerns that the house remains vacant. North Lanarkshire Council is quoted as working with liquidators Ernst and Young, the current building owners, and Historic Scotland to protect the House whilst it remains unused.
January 2009: The Cumbernauld News reports that the Friends of Cumbernauld House have presented a case to the Scottish Government for the house to become a national musuem of photography. One of the former residents of Cumbernauld House is reported to have been Lady Clementina Elphinstone-Fleming, a pioneer Victorian photographer. The articles goes on to note that the Scottish Government has stated there are no plans to buy the property.
August 2009: Glasgow Herald‘s Commercial Property section advertises the house ‘For Sale‘ with a price in excess of £1 million. A design brief has been prepared and is available from North Lanarkshire Council.
September 2009: The Cumbernauld News reports on a visit to Cumbernauld House by the Culture Secretary Mike Russell. There are no plans for the state to buy the house and it continues to be marketed.
March 2010: The Cumbernauld News reports on the creation of online petitions via Facebook for actions to prevent any further deterioration at Cumbernauld House.
May 2010: Cumbernauld News reports on the Save and Preserve Cumbernauld campaign, the article notes founders of the campaign have formed The Cumbernauld House Trust which will be actively seeking charitable donations and grant funding in an attempt to purchase the house and restoring it for a range of community activities.
May 2010: External inspection finds that the building remains disused. Outwardly, it appears to be in fair condition. The lead has been replaced but the roor requires maintenance for slipped and missing slates. The timber elements of the dormers are in need of repainting. Other windows are boarded up. There are plants growing on the steps.
June 2010: Cumbernauld House reports that solicitor and property developer Colin MacLeod, who grew up in the town, has announced the intention to either buy the house or to set up a trust fund to look after it. He plans to convert it into a hotel. Agents for the property, King Sturge, report that their has been interest from several parties.
August 2010: Members of the public contact SCT to advise the property has been purchased. Local planners confirm the purchase has completed. Some essential repairs to the building are already underway, the nature of which did not require listed building consent. Some clearing away of vegetation has also commenced. Discussions between the building‘s new owner and North Lanarkshire Council will continue to ensure the long-term survival of Cumbernauld House.
September 2010: A local community group, Cumbernauld House Trust group has registered as a charity with goals of long term sustainability of Cumbernauld House and the surrounding area. This will be completed by utilising the house and the surrounding area to encourage community use of the facility and create a centrepiece for the town of Cumbernauld. Fund raising has commenced with a view of potentially purchasing the building from the current owners CHB Developments Ltd.
November 2010: Glasgow Evening Times reports, Jamie Hepburn the MSP for Central Scotland raised the issue of the House in the Scottish Parliament, asking the Culture Minister to support the Cumbernauld House Trust, which is campaigning for a public use for the building.
April 2011: Local planners advise that the local authority has approved planning permission & listed building consent for residential conversion. Given the building‘s category A-listing, the applications have been referred to Historic Scotland for final approval.
October 2011: Local planners advise conversion works have commenced. Moved to Restoration in Progress.
Guides to Development
Conservation Area
Planning Authority Contact
PAC Telephone Number
01236 632636
Availability
Current Availability
Not Available
Appointed Agents
Price
Occupancy
Vacant
Occupancy Type
N/A
Present/Former Uses
Offices to Residential
Name of Owners
CHB Developments Ltd
Type of Ownership
Company
Information Services
Additional Contacts/Information Source
Bibliography
Adam, W (1812 ) Vitruvius Scoticus: being a collection of plans, elevations, and sections of public buildings, noblemen's and gentlemen's houses in Scotland: principally from the designs of the late William Adam Esq., architect, Edinburgh, Cumbernauld Hist Soc (1962 ) 'Cumbernauld', Discovery Excav Scot, 1962, McCann, J E (1981 a) 'Cumbernauld Castle 1981', Glasdig, 1, 1981, 10, McCann, J E (1981 b) 'Cumbernauld Castle (Cumbernauld p), tower house', Discovery Excav Scot, 1981, Millar, H B (1980 ) History of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth from earliest times: including a guide to places of interest in the district, Cumbernauld, 15, 49-50, NSA (1845 ) The new statistical account of Scotland by the ministers of the respective parishes under the superintendence of a committee of the society for the benefit of the sons and daughters of the clergy, 15v, Edinburgh, Vol.8, 143, RCAHMS (1982 b) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth District and Strathkelvin District, Strathclyde Region, The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 2. Revision, Edinburgh, 11, No.31,
Online Resources
Classification
Country Houses, Mansions and Large Villas
Original Entry Date
02/11/2007
Date of Last Edit
26/10/2011
