Description

1873 (possibly by David MacGibbon). 2-storey and attic; 6-bay; rectangular-plan; semi-detached office building (possibly built as a bank). Scottish baronial design; asymmetrical with crowstepped gable and pedimented dormers. Coursed snecked rockfaced sandstone with stugged sandstone ashlar dressings and polished ashlar detailing. Base course; hood-moulded band courses over windows to ground and 1st floor (that to 1st floor gableted to centre of each lintel); eaves band with parapet above; all to principal (N) elevation. Chamfered cills and roll-moulded surrounds to individual openings to ground and 1st floor. Corniced lintels and semicircular pediments (with shield at centre) to dormers. Coped gables; angle quoins.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: shallow ashlar porch to principal entrance to outer right; round-arched doorway with carved spandrels and 2-leaf panelled timber door surmounted by cornice and cablemoulding with crowned head at centre; parapet with shouldered semicircular pediment bearing Burgh arms at centre; short flanking pilasters with ball finials. 3-light mullion window with deep lintel, recessed slightly under segmental arch. 4 bays to right set forward slightly; entrance with canted lintel and panelled timber door with fanlight to outer left; cablemoulded hood-mould incorporates panel over centre and is stopped at flanking carved heads. 3 round-arched windows with carved spandrels to right. Regularly fenestrated 1st floor; window to each bay. 2 bays to outer right set back slightly further from ground floor bays, except to centre/around windows which rises flush with ground floor to crowstepped gable with thistle finial; eaves band stepped up to centre of pediment over panel; flanking miniature semicircular pediments. 2 dormers to left section; projecting wallhead stack dated 'AD 1873' in between.

W ELEVATION: irregularly fenestrated. Band course at 1st floor cill level.

S ELEVATION: gabled dormers visible to attic; later harled gabled extension to left.

Replacement aluminium windows to ground floor to principal elevation; 4-pane timber sash and case windows above. Grey slate roof. Shouldered projecting wallhead stack corbelled out over 1st floor windows and with band course and moulded bracketed coping to N side; round cans with louvred vents; coped wallhead stacks with band courses to E and W sides; that to E is shouldered. Early rainwater goods with moulded heads to principal elevation.

INTERIOR: modernised ground floor. Dog-leg staircase with winders, cast iron balustrade and border-glazed stair window to No 27.

Statement of Interest

According to Bert McEwan the architect was David MacGibbon. This is quite likely, as MacGibbon was responsible for constructing a series of branches of the National Bank of Scotland in the 1860's and early 70's. It is not known if this was originally a branch of the National Bank, however it does bear some similarity to some of his other bank designs, such as the (former) National Bank at 25-29 New Market Street, Falkirk of 1862. David MacGibbon is well known for his co-authorship (with his partner, Thomas Ross) of a series of books on the 'Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland'. The building retains and intact 1870's street frontage.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17816445

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

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  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
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  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
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  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings