'Links House' Dornoch 1843 - 2005
A six page A4 document,with four monochrome photographs, covering the history of 'Links House', Dornoch from 1843 to 2005. The classic Scottish manor home was constructed as a manse to the Dornoch Free Church in 1843 at the direction of the Rev George Rainy Kennedy. He lived in the house until he died in 1899 when it passed to his son Dr George Rainy Kennedy Jnr. In 1909 the Royal Dornoch Golf Club purchased from Dr Kennedy land adjacent to Links House for a anew clubhouse but a condition of the sale was that the club would not have a liquor license. Dr Kennedy died in 1943 and it is believed the house was requisitioned as wartime quarters for the RAF at Dornoch airfield. It was purchsed from the estate of Dr Kennedy by Cptain Donald Alexander Calder Grant, a decorated officer of the Gordon Highlanders and in 1947 the RDGC entered negotiations to rescind the 'Fue Charter' to permit the sale of alcohol in the clubhouse. Capt Grant died in 1975 and the house was sold to Graham and Jill Dobson in 1982. The idea to transform Links House from a private house to bespoke accommodation for discerning visitors first emerged in 2008 when American Todd Warnock was visiting Dornoch on a golf outing. The house was for sale and Mr Warnock became enthused at his first viewing. In 2009, during his next visit to Dornoch, Mr Warnock met Mr James Maxwell, principal architect of the renovations at Skibo Castle,to evaluate the potential conversion of the property and plans were developed for the transformation. The total development of Links House was finalised in 2012 with the purchase and rejoining of the property with Glenshiel, the property directly across Kennedy Avenue and the additional construction on the Links House site was completed in 2013. (See picture #1250 'Staff at Links House' and picture #11910 series of photographs of development 2012/13)
Dimensions: pdf file