Description

A Marshall Mackenzie, 1896; later additions and alterations. 2-storey, basement and attic, 6-bay double villa converted to hotel. Rough-faced coursed grey granite with finely finished dressings. Ground and 1st floor cill and lintel courses; eaves cornice; eaves blocking course.

NW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical; 6-bay, comprising 2 3-bay mirrored villas; tripartite windows to basement and ground floors of 2 central bays, single window above each at 1st floor. Doorways to penultimate bays to left and right, elaborate doorpieces, comprising Tuscan columns with banded rustication to shafts, supporting panelled entablatures and deep cornice, panelled timber doors with glazed upper panels, reached by stone steps flanked by railings, decoratively traceried letterbox fanlights; pilastered windows to 1st floor above, with narrow pediment breaking blocking course, flanked by scrolls. Bipartite windows to basement and 1st floor of bays to outer left and right, window to 1st floor above.

SW ELEVATION: gabled; 2-storey piend-roofed addition to centre, irregular fenestration, single window to left return; small opening off-centre to left of gablehead.

SE ELEVATION: 6-bay; near-symmetrical; regular fenestration to all floors of centre 2 bays; canted window advanced through basement and ground floor of flanking bays to left and right, piended slate roof to each; bipartite windows to basement and ground floors of bays to outer left and right, regular fenestration above; irregular dormers to attic floor. Late 20th century addition adjoining to outer left.

NE ELEVATION: gabled; various openings at basement floor; modern bridge link to 59 Queen's Road (see separate listing) at 1st floor.

Predominantly timber sash and case windows, plate glass lower sashes and small-pane upper sashes. Grey slate roof with lead ridge. Corniced gablehead and ridge stacks with octagonal and circular cans. Cast-iron and PVCu rainwater goods.

INTERIORS: largely remodelled as hotel (late 20th century); timber staircases with balusters survive; decorative mouldings and cornices to some rooms.

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan gatepiers to NW (shared with adjacent properties; low walls between; granite and brick coped walls to remainder.

Statement of Interest

B-Group ? From the beginning of the 19th century Aberdeen rapidly expanded westwards from Union Street. 61 and 63 Queen's Road is part of the later 19th century development W of Queen's Cross. Queen's Road is on the site of Skene Road, which was originally surrounded by the estate of Rubislaw. In 1877 Rubislaw Estate was bought by the City of Aberdeen Land Association, who re-aligned the road and sold off the estate in smaller plots. Streets became wider and villas with substantial gardens often replaced terraces. Prestigious architects, such as A Marshall Mackenzie, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. Despite the later additions and alterations, 61 and 63 Queen's Road survive as a good example of the boldly detailed villas which were built on the prestigious Queen's Road in the late 19th century. Of particular note are the grand doorpieces.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17780076

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)