29, 31, 33 Marischal Street, Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Aberdeen

Entry Name: 29, 31, 33 Marischal Street, Aberdeen

Listing Name: 29-33 (Odd Nos) Marischal Street

Listing Date: 12 January 1967

Category: B

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 355251

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB20427

Building Class: Cultural

ID on this website: 200355251

Location: Aberdeen

County: Aberdeen

Town: Aberdeen

Electoral Ward: George St/Harbour

Traditional County: Aberdeenshire

Tagged with: Townhouse

Description

Later 18th century (see Notes). 3-storey with attic, 5-bay classical townhouse on sloping site. Loanhead granite ashlar with raised lugged margins at second floor, alternate lighter granite dressings and moulded eaves course. Moulded architraves to central timber door (No 31) with rectangular fanlight with oval tracery above. Pair of bipartite canted dormers to steeply pitched roof.

12-pane timber sash and case windows to upper floors, 16-pane to ground floor. Grey slates; ashlar coped skew at right gable; coped ridge stack with granite ashlar to street and red brick to rear; clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods. 6-storey to rear; irregular glazing pattern with oriel window at 4th floor.

Statement of Interest

Marischal Street (designed by William Law, 1767) is of considerable historic interest in terms of the early development of Classical Aberdeen. The simple classical styling of Nos 29-33 forms a significant part of the Street's lengthy run, contributing to its refined character. The building was constructed at some point between 1767, when plans for the street were laid out, and 1789, when Alexander Milnes' map showed that the North end of the street was completed by that date.

Formed on the site of the Earl Marischal's lodging and linking Castlegate with the Harbour below, Marischal Street is carried on embankments down a partly vaulted incline. It is the earliest example of this type of construction in Aberdeen, anticipating the larger scale development of Union Street and Edinburgh's South Bridge by 20 years. Originally having a fine granite bridge half way down, this was demolished and replaced in 1983 along with adjacent Nos 36-38 and 37-39 to allow the widening of Virginia Street below.

The buildings occupying the Southern half of the street are attributed to William Smith (d.1812), father of John Smith (the renowned Aberdeen architect - b.1781) and are generally grander and more varied. The street as a whole retains much of its refinement and original character despite the gradual move from domestic to commercial ownership throughout 19th century. It is thought to be the first street in Aberdeen paved with square granite sets.

Part of A Group with 3-60 (Inclusive Nos) Marischal Street.

External Links

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