▁in ▁the ▁final ▁stages ▁of ▁the ▁construction ▁following ▁Play f air ’ s ▁death ▁in ▁ 1 7 9 4 . ▁The ▁park ▁was ▁laid ▁out ▁by ▁Thomas ▁White , ▁a ▁follow er ▁of ▁Lan cel ot ▁' Cap ability ' ▁Brown . ▁ ▁The ▁Pe vs ner ▁Arch itect ural ▁Guide ▁for ▁Aber de ens hire ▁North ▁and ▁Mor ay ▁states ▁that ▁" C air ness ▁House , ▁by ▁James ▁Play f air ▁ 1 7 9 1 - 9 7 , ▁is ▁of ▁international ▁importance ▁as ▁the ▁only ▁house ▁in ▁Britain ▁the ▁design ▁and ▁construction ▁of ▁which ▁reflected ▁and ▁evol ved ▁with ▁the ▁rapid ▁adv ances ▁in ▁French ▁Ne oc lass ic ism ▁towards ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁C 1 8 " ▁and ▁that ▁" its ▁surv ival ▁is ▁the ▁more ▁pre cious ▁as ▁so ▁many ▁of ▁Play f air ' s ▁other ▁designs ▁were ▁either ▁not ▁built ▁or ▁have ▁been ▁lost ▁or ▁alter ed ". ▁ ▁History ▁C air ness ▁House ▁was ▁commission ed ▁by ▁Charles ▁Gordon ▁of ▁C air ness ▁and ▁But h law , ▁a ▁desc endant ▁of ▁the ▁Bar cl ays ▁of ▁C air ness ▁through ▁his ▁mother . ▁The ▁House ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁a ▁ ▁estate ▁that ▁included ▁the ▁village ▁of ▁St . ▁Com b ’ s ▁and ▁the ▁L och ▁of ▁Str ath beg . ▁The ▁second ▁la ird , ▁Major - General ▁Thomas ▁Gordon ▁( 1 7 8 8 – 1 8 4 1 ), ▁a ▁good ▁friend ▁of ▁Lord ▁By ron , ▁was