Description

Circa 1860, extended to rear circa 1900. 2-storey, 3-bay, rectangular-plan with later T-projection to rear, classically detailed, piend roofed villa sited on raised ground overlooking Dudhope Castle. Semicircular-arched doorpiece incorporating decoratively consoled broken pediment, flanking pilasters and deep-set panelled timber door with semicircular fanlight. Ashlar with snecked rubble to sides and rear; whitewashed brick extension. Eaves course and cornice. Angle pilaster strips to S; raised margins and quoin strips. Voussoired round-arched stair window with original coloured margin glazing to N; margined windows with bracketted cills to S. Stone mullions.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: principal elevation to S comprising door to centre at ground, canted windows in flanking bays and regular fenestration to 1st floor. N (rear) elevation including stair window to centre and piended single storey extension off-centre right.

Some timber sash and case windows to ground floor N extension, multi-pane timber sash and case stair window with decorative coloured margin and external secondary glazing, and 4-pane effect look-alike PVCu glazing elsewhere. Grey slates with small modern rooflight to S. Coped ashlar wallhead stacks with full-complement of polygonal cans.

INTERIOR: some good decorative detail retained including fine plasterwork, that to drawing room incorporating variety of diminutive heads (see Notes); black and white marble fire surrounds to principal ground floor rooms, some timber fireplaces to 1st floor bedrooms; architraved panelled timber doors and deep skirting boards Part-glazed screen door leading to stairhall, timber dog-leg staircase with decorative balusters, finialled newel posts and pendant finials. Extension to rear incorporating cupola, butler's pantry type wall cupboards, glazed brick walls, and deep china sinks.

BOUNDARY WALLS: low coped ashlar walls to front; stepped flat-coped, high rubble walls enclosing large garden to rear. Shaped screen wall abutting house at W incorporating pedestrian entrance with timber door and stone lintel, and 2-leaf timber door to garage.

Statement of Interest

This well-detailed former manse is prominently sited on raised ground overlooking parkland and the dramatic towers of the 16th century Dudhope Castle which Defoe called a 'noble and ancient pile', with stunning views across the River Tay to Fife. No 13 Dudhope Terrace complements a short row of similar neo-classical villas, Nos 8 to 14 (inclusive), all of which are listed (see separate listings). Apart from No 9 which is slightly earlier, all date from circa 1860, and continue the trend introduced by architect George Angus at Nos 1 to 5 in his 'plan of exploiting the wonderful slopes of the Law with classical cottages and villas' (McKean and Walker). Thought to have been built for the widow of a local merchant, the house was adopted as a manse during the early years of the 20th century.

The interior is of some quality and includes intricately detailed plasterwork heads incorporated into the drawing room cornice depict a Caesar-type head wearing a laurel wreath, a helmeted face thought to be Hannibal, a bearded face wearing a typical Scots bonnet, and a crowned head with flowing beard and hair.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17807465

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

• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)