Historic manse revels in its heavenly

We didn’t know very much about upper Skelmorlie at all, to be honest, but it’s one of Scotland’s hidden gems

PERCHED above the beautiful coastal village of Skelmorlie stands a fine Victorian villa with an interesting history.

Ellanbank, the former manse to the local church, was designed by renowned Glasgow architect John Honeyman (who incidentally once considered becoming a minister, but decided against it.)

Honeyman was most famous for his churches, including the Free West Church in Greenock and the Lansdowne United Presbyterian Church on Glasgow’s Great Western Road. He also designed the neoclassical Paisley Free Library and Museum, which opened in 1871, and many domestic commissions, including substantial country houses and suburban and seaside villas.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh fans, however, will know him as one half of the partnership, with John Keppie, which employed a young Mackintosh as draughtsman in 1889.

“I find it fascinating, to have a house so connected to the history of the area and to Scottish architecture and design,” says Allan McFarlane, current owner of Ellanbank.

“Maintaining all the period features has been important to us. Because it was the manse, it shared many of the same stained glass and stonework features as the church.”

He smiles: “We used to joke that going to church was like going home…”

Ellanbank is a beautiful red sandstone villa, which has been carefully modernised in a manner sympathetic to its Victorian heritage, with many traditional features, such as ceiling plasterwork, splendid fireplaces and woodwork retained and enhanced.

Tucked away at the end of a sweeping, driveway, the house includes a magnificent reception hall with its own impressive stained glass window, an elegant drawing room, a fine dining room, comfortable sitting room and a useful study or home office.

The breakfasting kitchen is fantastic and the ground floor also includes a butler’s pantry, a handy store and a cloakroom, plus the outstanding conservatory which overlooks the rear gardens.

“This is a winner for me,” says Allan.

“All year round, it is cosy and comfortable and in the summer, on the rare occasions when it does get too hot, the windows are self-opening to let air in.”

A lovely staircase, carpeted in rich blue, rises above the family’s piano and leads to all five bedrooms, (or four bedrooms and a flexible games room and teenagers’ den, if required). This level is also home to the bathroom and shower room.

Ellanbank is an easy house to love, as Allan points out.

“We came to see it on a sunny August day, eight years ago,” he explains. “We sat on the swing seat in the garden, looked out over the Clyde, and fell in love with the place.

“It has been a lovely family home to us ever since.”

Outside the gardens are lovely, with lots of space and little maintenance required.

“I like a garden that looks good without you having to do very much to it,” jokes Allan. “That was another factor which appealed to us about Ellanbank.”

The McFarlanes knew the area well, with family members living in Greenock and nearby Langbank.

“We didn’t know very much about upper

The views over the Firth of Clyde are a key feature of the house and helped sell it to the current owners