M023 Dunloe, Wemyss Bay

Dunloe was built on part of a S.-facing site at the village of Wemyss Bay on the Firth of Clyde coast, which was developed initially in the late 18th century with four holiday homes for Glasgow merchants. Of these Dunloe's immediate neighbour, Mansfield, is the only survivor. 1

In 1862, a pink sandstone Scottish Baronial house replaced one of the earlier buildings. In 1889–91, this was itself partially demolished and significantly extended by John Honeyman & Keppie for Ninian Bannatyne Stewart in a style derived from 17th-century Scottish sources, using yellow sandstone. The house appears to have been named Dunloe at this time: the name only appears on O.S. maps after this work. The surviving 1860s portion at the S.W. corner is shown in four drawings by John Honeyman & Keppie for the 1889–91 addition.

A perspective by Alexander McGibbonand two drawings of the interior – one of the hall – were exhibited at the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts in 1891 (778, 779 and 787). The hall and dining room, which have elaborate chimneypieces, woodwork and metalwork, were illustrated in the British Architect in September 1891. 2 A drawing of the hall was also exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1893 (347).

At the same time that they extended Dunloe, John Honeyman & Keppie carried out alterations and repairs immediately S.W. of Dunloe at Ardvar for Stewart's uncle and father-in-law, Ninian Bannatyne Stewart senior. The house had been substantially extended by John Honeyman in 1879. 3

Authorship: This is one of over 270 jobs carried out in the office of John Honeyman & Keppie (Honeyman, Keppie & Mackintosh from 1901) during Mackintosh's time there. Mackintosh undoubtedly worked on many of these, but there is no specific evidence for his involvement in this case.