2-4 Old Castlegate, Banff

This is a very fine historic building. The pictures show you a substantial three-storey, wide three-bay house fronting Old Castlegate, with a later rear wing, now no. 4, forming an L-plan. There are harled, painted ashlar margins, chamfered in no. 2, which has a centre recessed depressed-arch entrance with side lights and a double-leaf panelled door. It has flanking, almost square, ground floor windows, wide tripartites in the outer first floor bays, of which the wide side lights were probably added in the early 19th century, and regular fenestration in the second floor windows. Everywhere was (and is) multi-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. No 4 is a projecting three-storey, three-bay wing at the rear, probably added circa 1800, with a facing gable and paired ground, first and attic windows.
No 2 is entered through a stone-slabbed low central entrance hall, with fine perspectives into the adjacent rooms. The main first floor room, formerly a dining room, has a plaster corniced and segmental-headed buffet alcove and reeded detailing to the inner face of the pilastered window dividers. The original drawing room on the first floor of no. 4, circa 1800, has beaded panelling to its window shutters and door, and a moulded and painted wooden chimneypiece with a plaster ceiling frieze. No 4 has the original staircase of the house, set against the rear wall of no. 2; a wide staircase with turned balusters, rising the full height of the building. In both houses some 18th century raised and fielded six-panel doors survive.
A building of this quality certainly deserves listing and conservation. But for Banff it is possibly even more important as a piece of townscape. Old Castlegate, as the name suggests, is a narrow historic street, the original approach to Banff Castle, so probably the oldest street in the town. For more than ten years this house has been boarded up, and supported by rusty scaffolding. There was a striking crack going down the front of the building, which well explained the need for the scaffolding. Anyone going along the High Street of Banff would notice this eyesore. Behind the scaffolding anyone with eyes could see that it was a building of genuine quality and character, sorrowful evidence of Banff’s decline. Even more frightening was the vocal body of opinion that suggested it should simply be demolished. Not only would this have destroyed an admirable building, but it would have left a gaping hole where there had been the real urban achievement of a narrow perspective pointing to Banff Castle. Only old streets are allowed to be narrow.
The Banff Townscape Heritage Initiative arranged for the funding. The North-East Scotland Preservation Trust took over the property and restored it as two delightful town houses. The work has been beautifully done. The town took the opportunity to see over the restored building at the Doors Open Day last September, and was delighted with what had been achieved. Private houses are private, and glimpses of a very attractive entrance hall and a spacious light kitchen as we walk past may add to the happiness of the neighbours, but the interiors are only tangentially a public gain. But considered as townscape, whether one knows much about Regency architecture or not, this restoration has done so much to give Banff back its self-esteem. When you look back up Old Castlegate towards the High Street, and see the range of contrasting pastel gables climbing the hill, the effect is completely delightful.
The Banff Preservation and Heritage Society would have loved to be able to restore 2-4 Old Castlegate, and are delighted that others have succeeded in doing so. This wonderful restoration really does deserve an award.

Summary
We are celebrating the beautiful restoration of a large historic house in the heart of old Banff. For many years it had been boarded up, and indeed was held upright with scaffolding. Our own Society, of course, had looked into how much it would cost to restore, and knew at once we had no chance. But the Banff Renaisance Project found the money, and a scheme that did justice to the building itself, to its key setting in the Conservation Area, and made it into two delightful town houses. This is really good news for Banff, our place.

Architect: Les Hunter

Supporting Statement from the owners
We were very pleased to buy 2 Old Castlegate, Banff from the North East Scotland Preservation Trust as it was a unique chance to live in a grand, old townhouse in a grand, old town for a reasonable price.
2 Old Castlegate has been completely renovated and modernised to offer the best of both worlds.
The renovation has created much local interest because of its location in the town centre. The project has shown commitment and investment in the renewal of Banff and this has a very positive impact.
The strength lies in its simple and beautifully proportioned features. This is the kind of domestic design that inspired Charles Rennie Macintosh to create Hill House, Helensburgh, one of the great Scottish buildings.
The building work by local firm A.D. Walker ensures that the structure is in better condition than it has ever been and will give pleasure to many generations to come.
2 Old Castlegate will always be a saleable asset because of its inherent beauty, space, views, central location and proximity to local services.
The architect, Les Hunter, has designed an efficient machine for living within a grand townhouse. He has given us lots of accommodation and still allocated plenty of space for each room so that the scale is just right.
Externally, it is a lovely townhouse and internally, a modern living space which is our home and a joy to live in.
Gordon and Debbie Wilson

The users and the owners are the same people.