Description

William Henderson, 1865-6; additions and alterations 1896, 1913, 1928; converted to hospital 1948; converted to residential 2000. 2-storey and attic, 19-bay, H-plan, plain classical former hospital and Poor Law Institution. Pedimented tetrastyle entrance pavilion with voussoired round-arched doorway at centre, and piended outer wings. Narrow bands of red sandstone rubble with contrasting ashlar dressings.

E (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: slightly advanced, 3-bay entrance pavilion at centre, comprising 4 pilasters flanking centre and outer bays, surmounted by corniced frieze and pediment with blank tympanum. Centre bay at ground with 6-panelled timber door, 2-light sidelights and semicircular plate glass fanlight; modern part-glazed panelled timber doors with plate glass fanlights in bays 5 and 15; regular fenestration to remaining bays at each floor, outer bays set-back. 4 regularly-disposed slate-hung tripartite dormer windows with pedimented centre lights (triangular to outer pair, and semicircular to inner pair) flanking broad centre pediment.

12-pane glazing pattern in replacement timber sash and case windows with secondary double glazing. Graded grey slates. Decorative ironwork finial to timber-louvered, octagonal ridge ventilator at centre with slated polygonal spirelet roof, 2 further flanking ventilators with ball finials. Cast-iron downpipes with decorative rainwater hoppers. Coped ashlar gable and ridge stacks with polygonal cans. Ashlar-coped skews with block skewputts.

LODGES: single storey and 2-storey, 3-bay former gate lodges to SE. Dressed coursed red sandstone rubble with contrasting ashlar dressings. Pedimented dormerheads and single corniced gatepier to E; centre door single storey elevation to S with further gable beyond.

GARDEN WALLS: some original, semicircular-coped random rubble walls remaining.

Statement of Interest

The fine proportions, simplicity and massing of this elegant classical building remain an eye-catching feature in the Walker's Bridge area. Built as the Kincardineshire Combination Poorhouse for 13 Parochial Boards in the county, and opened on the 18th August 1867, it followed the standard H-plan of poorhouses, but is unusual in the choice of classical style. Originally with a 2-storey main block, the attic space was probably converted in 1896 at the time when additional dormitories are known to have been added. The single storey porter's lodge was raised to 2-storeys in 1913, and the Governor's accommodation was moved from the centre of the main building after a house was built in 1928. The building became the Woodcot Hospital for care of the elderly in 1948, and was closed in 1998. Converted to flats in 2000, it retains evidence of the fine setting commented upon in the previous list description.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17779866

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

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)