Description

Alfred Waterhouse and Son, 1892-5. 4-storey mezzanine and attic Early Renaissance former insurance office on corner site. Polished red sandstone ashlar. Octagonal 6-stage corner turret with polished granite facing at ground and doorway with elaborate 3-light arcaded window above; changes orientation at 5th stage; spire with weathervane finial. Ground and mezzanine united by arcade; each arch 2 bays wide. Bays paired to upper floors and divided by pilasters. Architraved windows; bipartite to 1st and 2nd floors, tripartite and transomed to 3rd; pedimented ashlar wallhead dormers with finials. Carved panels between 1st and 2nd floor windows; heavy dentilled cornice above 2nd floor; solid parapet.

N (ST ANDREWS SQUARE): 8-bay; 2 W bays slightly projecting with corniced door and window at ground. 3rd floor windows set in arcade with carved tympani. 3 bipartite dormers to 6 left bays; projecting bays with tiered Dutch gable. Basement area at ground.

E (SOUTH ST ANDREW STREET) ELEVATION: 8-bay. Arcading at ground with modern glazing. 2 N bays recessed and narrower (single windows), with single light dormer as above. Next 2 bays with tiered Dutch gable; remaining bays without arcading at 3rd floor.

Timber sash and case plate glass windows. Ashlar coped skews; corniced ashlar stacks; grey slates.

INTERIOR: gutted and rebuilt, 1993, with exception of public bar at ground (former public office) and rooms above facing St Andrews Square. Public bar lined with glazed terracotta in Prudential livery; 3 bays with 2 central piers supporting lateral arches; foliate thistle frieze above terracotta cornice of 1st stage; 2 arcaded windows with stained glass to upper stages of S side; recess at ground to W; upper stage to E with internal bow window to left, pedimented doorway to right; consoled cornice, geometric plaster ribbed ceiling.

RAILINGS: simple cast-iron railings to basement area.

Statement of Interest

Planned in standard Prudential red brick, but stone was insisted upon by the City.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17806953

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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  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
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  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
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  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)