Old Auchentroig, Stirlingshire
This little building occupies a unique place in the history of Scottish architecture. It seems to have been built anew for the bonnet laird John Maclachlan of Auchentroig. It is best described as a small laird's house, artisan built, urbane but with vernacular characteristics, part lowland and part highland, built at the turn of the 17th and18th centuries. It was attacked in August 1710 by Rob Roy MacGregor, who forced Maclachlan's surrender by setting fire to the base of the door!
The house appears to have been built on a 'T' plan, probably part of a larger group of buildings, perhaps even a 'fermtoun'. All that remains is a rectangular crowstepped house of four rooms attached to the corner of the walled garden of the much larger Victorian house. There was some refitting in the late 18th century and a major overhaul in the late 19th century, when it probably became a gardener's shed. It has been disused for many years.
After nearly ten years of campaigning, an agreement was reached with the NTS Little Houses Improvement Scheme and funds were provided by Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The restoration of Auchentroig house was completed in early 1999.
