ŠPhotographs: Keith Robertson
Keith Robertson
Stoneman’s Corner
Unearthing hidden treasures
T
he Links Hotel in the town of Montrose on the east coast of Scotland is not particularly prepossessing although this is partly made up for by the large free car park. The core of the hotel is a large Victorian House with a number of extensions which have been added to turn it into a hotel suitable for weddings and other functions. It is only when you enter the reception area that you come to appreciate what an interesting place it is. It was built in the 1850's as a private home by one of the mill owning Paton family. Some features were added later while still a private house, which is perhaps why the website incorrectly describes the building as Edwardian when in fact it is Victorian and shown on the 1848 Montrose town map.
When Angela and I stayed there recently, while attending the wedding of an ex-employee, we were provided with a pleasant first floor room with balcony in a modern extension. All the rooms are individually themed; ours was named the Garden Room after the Scottish television show the Beechgrove Garden and there were photographs of the presenter on the walls. The hotel main hall is dominated by an amazing Victorian Staircase leading to the first floor with a huge stained glass window on the half landing. The first floor drawing room, now used for meetings and small functions, contains a truly beautiful yellow French marble fireplace. The most imposing feature, however, is a fine example of an Arts and Crafts fireplace in the ground hall. As the Arts and Crafts movement didn't page 6