THE redevelopment of the historic seafront mansion Cairndhu - home for many years of the first Baron Strathclyde - is already attracting admiring glances.

The peerage became extinct when the Baron, Alexander Ure, died in the house on October 2, 1928, and Cairndhu remained a private home until the Second World War when it was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for use as a degaussing base.

It was returned to private ownership in 1947 but three years later it was converted to become a hotel. Around 1984 it became a care home, and this closed in 2010.

Now new life is being breathed into renowned architect William Leiper’s creation.

PANACEA Homes of Glasgow are refurbishing the grade-A listed mansion inside and out and creating a mews home and semi-detached houses in the grounds in a 16-home development.

“The apartments have each been individually designed to retain original distinguishing features such as the Anglo-Japanese ceiling by the esteemed Daniel Cottier, coffered timber panelling, skylights, and cornices,” say the developers.

READ MORE: Cairndhu House in Helensburgh set for luxury conversion

“Each aspect of the house is being sympathetically addressed with architraves, fascias and doors finished in satin white paint, whilst the original ceilings are being prepared in conjunction with Historic Environment Scotland.”

It was built in 1871 in the style of a miniature French chateau by Leiper for John Ure, a prosperous 47-year-old Glasgow flour miller and merchant who went on to become a distinguished Lord Provost of Glasgow.

Mr Ure and his wife Isabella - whose Glasgow-born grand-daughter Mary Ure became a famous film and stage star - made it their family home, and he lived there until his death in 1901.

Their second son Alexander was born in Glasgow on February 24, 1853, and educated at the then Larchfield Academy - in those days an all age school and now part of Lomond School - and at Glasgow University.

He graduated MA in 1872, BL in 1874, and LLB in 1878, and he was made an honorary LLD by the university in 1907.

In 1878 he was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates and began his career at the Scottish bar.

READ MORE: Developers' delight as Helensburgh mansion plan gets green light

The next year he married Margaret McDowall, daughter of Thomas Steven, a Glasgow iron merchant. They had one daughter, who died in 1918.

His career took off quickly thanks to his influential connections with the west of Scotland, the source of most of the lucrative commercial litigations in the Parliament House, and a natural gift of robust and telling advocacy. After only 14 years of junior practice he was called to the bar in 1878.

For the next 10 years he was a lecturer in constitutional law and history at Glasgow University, but this appointment, which did not require him to live in the city, did not interfere with his professional progress.

Like many other ambitious young advocates he took up politics, but his first attempt to enter parliament as Liberal candidate for West Perthshire in 1892 was unsuccessful.

He also failed in 1893 to secure election for Linlithgowshire, but at the general election in 1895 he was returned in that constituency which he represented until his elevation to the bench in 1913.

From 1905 to 1909 he was Solicitor General for Scotland, before succeeding Lord Shaw (later Lord Craigmyle) as Lord Advocate and becoming a member of the Privy Council.

READ MORE: Eye on Millig: The wireless pioneer from Helensburgh who shunned John Logie Baird

Physically vigorous and an excellent public speaker, he had a high profile in politics, while continuing his legal work. He particularly excelled in cross-examination.

His most famous case was in 1909 when he conducted the prosecution in the controversial trial of petty criminal Oscar Slater for the brutal and bloody murder of wealthy 82-year-old Marion Gilchrist in Glasgow, and secured from the jury a verdict of guilty by a 9-6 majority.

The death sentence was commuted, but the verdict was widely considered dubious.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was among those who believed in Slater’s innocence and campaigned for his freedom, and in July 1928, after Slater was freed, the High Court of Justiciary quashed his conviction.

In 1913 Ure succeeded Lord Dunedin as Lord Justice General for Scotland and Lord President of the Court of Session, and in 1914 he was raised to the peerage under the title of Baron Strathclyde of Sandyford, County Lanark.

He proved immediately to be an efficient and capable judge, courteous, attentive, and alert.

READ MORE: Eye on Millig: Church family renowned for helping others spent time on Garelochside

He always had an eye to the practical issue, his judgments were models of clarity, but he was sometimes opinionated and outspoken.

An intrepid yachtsman, he was also a keen walker. On one occasion he walked from Edinburgh to London, and on another from London to Land’s End.

During the First World War he rendered valuable service in promoting the Scottish War Savings Association, in recognition of which he was made a GCB in 1917.

Three years later ill health forced him to resign from the bench, and he retired to Cairndhu. It was said to be characteristic of him that he gave up the pension to which he was entitled.

He was survived by his wife, and left estate of £150,180 18 shillings and one penny.

* * * * * * * *

If you have a story from Helensburgh and Lomond's past or present you think might be suitable for a future Eye on Millig column, email the details to eyemillig@btinternet.com.