Eastend House

Eastend House, a striking castle at the southern boundary of Carmichael estate, was originally on a separate estate occupied by a branch of the Carmichael family who separated from the senior line around 1500.

It had been in the possession of the Carmichael family and their heirs since records began when it was put up for sale in 1988 and acquired by Chief Richard Carmichael in 1989. Eastend comprises a 37 room mansion house of four floors with the oldest visible part of the building, which is claimed to have a much more ancient nucleus, being an early 16th century keep (a fortified tower). To this were added tall crowstepped wings to the east and west in 1673, and these in turn were joined up on the south by a typical 18th century bow-fronted addition which completely obscured the keep on that side. In the mid 19th century large "Scottish baronial" extensions were added to the west.

The building is listed on the "Castles of Scotland" map and is a listed historic building, Category B. In addition to terraced lawns, extensive walled gardens, and views of Tinto Hill through majestic ancient redwoods and beech trees, there are three cottages and an ancient stone farm-steading square with servant's accommodations, stables, harness rooms, dovecot, and clock tower. Because the wood interior supporting structure suffers from dry rot, it is not currently habitable and has been left derelict since the 80's. The windows are caked in muck and grime so I can just about shoe-horn in this building into the Weekend Blip Challenge theme of muck.