Major Castle Projects

Grade ‘A’ Listed - The Castle was built for Charles Rudd, partner of Cecil Rhodes in 1900. The Castle had been unsympathetically converted to a Hotel during the 1970s and had lost many of its original fittings. Externally it had had some unfortunate additions. James Maxwell acted as Architect and Project Manager for the extensive refurbishment, alterations and reinstatement works which were necessary to return the Castle and Estate to a top quality Country House Hotel. Works were carried out between 1987 and 1990 and included forming 16 bedroom suites, conversion of an annex, construction of a conservatory, reinstatement of the gardens, forming a Health Spa, construction of a tennis court, new jetty and viewing deck, provision of staff accommodation and acquisition of additional property. The project was for a private client.

www.glenborrodalecastle.com

Skibo Castle, Dornoch

Grade ‘B’ Listed, reclassified ‘A’ - The Castle as it exists today is largely due to the extensive alterations and additions carried out by Andrew Carnegie in 1899/1900. The Castle environs are designated in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Historic Importance and part of the estate is protected under SSSI status. Maxwell and Company was responsible for the conversion of the Castle and Estate to form the Carnegie Club. The Practice was engaged by Skibo Ltd in 1991 and worked on a succession of projects until 2005. The major works comprised the alteration and upgrading of the Castle to form 24 suites, the conversion of 10 mostly ‘B’ Listed Cottages for guest accommodation, design of a new Guest Lodge, new Golf House, Health Spa, Gym and Swimming Pool, new infrastructure, and ancillary facilities for guests. The Castle was re-classified to Grade ‘A’ status in 2003.

Maxwell and Company also worked on the Cherokee Plantation, South Carolina, USA for the client who had initiated the Carnegie Club.

www.carnegieclub.co.uk

Grade ‘A’ Listed - The Castle is an historic fortalice built for Lord Lovat in 1620. Its sister Castle is Castle Stuart near Dalcross Airport. Both castles are examples of the transitional period of domestication of fortified tower houses.

The Practice was engaged by the present owners in 1998 to make major renovations, refurbishment and alterations in order to provide a comfortable contemporary family home. The works comprised external conservation repairs to the fabric and internal alterations and additions to provide 9 bedrooms most with bathrooms, family kitchen and sitting room, great hall, 2 studies, utility room, cellars, boot room and games room.

The Practice has designed an (un-built) Swimming Pool and Spa complex in the walled garden and is currently working on alterations of several Farm Steading buildings to provide additional guest accommodation.

www.dalcross.org/

Gordon Castle, Fochabers, Moray

Grade ‘A’ Listed - Originally built in the 1470s, the Castle was substantially altered and enlarged in the 1780s for the 4^th Duke of Gordon. At one time the largest edifice north of the Firth of Forth, it was partially demolished after the Second World War in order to avoid death duties. Today, only the original South Wing is inhabited by the family. Maxwell and Company have recently been involved in the refurbishment of the wing to upgrade the accommodation, provide additional bathrooms and comprehensively overhaul the services.

www.gordoncastle.co.uk

Inverlochy Castle, Fort William, Lochaber

Grade ‘B’ Listed - The Castle was built for Lord Abinger in 1863/64. The Castle has been a pre-eminent Country House Hotel since 1971 and is privately owned. James Maxwell acted as Architect to Inverlochy from 1983 until 1998. Of the many projects undertaken the principal ones were the conversion of the North Wing to provide a number of suites, the conversion and extension of the Factor’s House to form a separate family run Hotel in the grounds, proposals to extend the dining accommodation and proposals to convert the Carriage House.