You would be forgiven for overlooking the low, white-washed building on the corner of West Loan and Station Road as just another small but unremarkable building in the busy little coastal town. But look more closely and the small architectural features like its ornate pediments on its dormer windows, crowstep gables and various carvings reveal a far more interesting history. It is an outstanding example of national importance of a style of 17th century building known as a Laird’s house or seat.

Built in 1628 and known today as Hamilton House, it was previously known as the “Dower House”, “the Barracks” or “Magdalens’ House”, after its builder, Lord Magdalens. Some interesting features to look out for around the exterior include the decorated coats of arms of its builder and his wife Katherine Sympson, their initials, various carvings and the inscription “PRAISE BE THE LORD MY STRENGTH AND MY REDEIMER” carved beneath a winged soul, acanthus leaves and a large thistle.

In addition to being a home, Hamilton House also briefly became a military barracks in the late 18th century when the fear of a French invasion was at its height and in the 19th century it became a tavern. By the 1930s, the ancient building had been split into four houses for local farm workers and was in grave danger of demolition when the town council decided to widen the road. Only a small projecting wing, that once led into the courtyard, was lost when the West Loan was eventually widened and the remaining portion of the house was bought and partially restored by the National Trust for Scotland in 1937. Since then, the house has been let as a family home to a series of private tenants and remains so now. Please respect the privacy of its current occupants as you view it from the outside today.