Description

Early 19^th century, symmetrical two-storey, three-bay detached house, prominently located at the corner of Campbell Street and with Olrig Street. The walls are rendered and lined as ashlar on the principal elevations (southeast and northeast) and are exposed freestone rubble at the rear (northwest).

The principal (southeast) elevation to Campbell Street features a central door flanked by two specular windows at ground floor and three windows at first floor. The northeast elevation to Olrig Street has two windows at ground floor, two windows at first floor and two small attic windows. There is a single storey rendered lean-to extension, at the southwest gable.

The house has two-pane glazing, a prominent gable-end stack at the northeast, renewed and smaller at southwest, slate roof.

The interior has been modernised and the decorative scheme largely dates to the later 20^th to early 21^st century.

The house is set in a large plot surrounded by Caithness flagstone boundary walls.

Historical development

During the 19^th century Thurso was a major port and commercial centre in the north of Scotland. In the early 19th century, the town expanded landward when the gridded street pattern of the New Town was laid out by Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet in circa 1810 as shown on the plan New Town of Thurso, reproduced in Captain John Henderson, General View of the Agriculture of the Country of Caithness, 1812.

1 Campbell Street was built as part of the expansion of Thurso, following the street layout of the early 19th century plan. Campbell Street is shown laid out on the circa 1810 Plan, New Town of Thurso, at the northern extent of the gird plan of streets. The building at 1 Campbell Street is first shown on the Ordnance Survey 25-inch 1st edition map (surveyed 1872, published 1873) as a rectangular-plan detached house. The building footprint appears unchanged on the ND1168SE-A National Grid Map (surveyed 1965, published 1966).

A single storey lean-to extension was added to the southwest elevation around the mid-20th century and is shown on an historic photograph dating 1973 (Canmore).

Statement of Interest

• The building is a good representative example of an early 19^th century burgh house designed in a simple classical stye.
• Its early 19^th century exterior form and simple traditional character are well retained including its prominent end gable.
• The building retains its historic setting and forms part of a group of buildings of similar date and type that reflect the classical planning of the New Town of Thurso.
• It is of historical significance as a notable example of a burgh house built as part of the early 19^th century expansion of Thurso.

Architectural Interest

Design

Early 19^th century buildings in Thurso built as part of the New Town expansion are typically characterised by small one or two storey terraced houses, built parallel and directly fronting the street, following the grid pattern norm.

1 Campbell Street retains its rectangular plan form which appears to survive substantially unaltered since the mid-late 19^th century, apart from the small single storey lean-to extension on the southwest elevation.

The principal elevation fronting Campbell Street retains its simple early 19th century character with symmetrical openings and first floor windows set close to the eaves. The symmetrical arrangement of the openings reflects the classical style that became fashionable in the late 18th century, particularly in Edinburgh. The influence of this type of architecture spread to other regions in Scotland by the early 19th century and 1 Campbell Street is good representative example of the adoption of this style in a burgh house.

1 Campbell Street was designed as northern termination of Campbell Street within the 1810 New Town Plan of Thurso and this is reflected in the wide and prominent gable-end stack at the northeast elevation which fronts Olrig Street. The prominent gable design mirrors that of 16 Olrig Street (LB42008) on the opposite side of Campbell Street and together the buildings form a notable group that represents the planned early 19^th century development of Thurso New Town.

While some alterations have taken place to the house including re-rendering of the exterior, replacement of the 19^th century glazing and entrance door the traditional early 19^th century exterior character is well retained. The building's roofline, form and footprint remain substantially unchanged as well as its simple classical principal elevation with symmetrical openings and pronounced gable-end stack on the northeast elevation.

Internally the house largely retains its traditional 19^th century plan form and wall thickness. The interior decorative scheme has been substantially modernised in the later 20^th to early 21^st century as is common for residential buildings.

Setting

The setting of 1 Campbell Street is well retained and adds to its interest.

The house is located at the northern end of the 19th century New Town expansion of Thurso whose classical style gridded street pattern largely survives to the present day. The building is prominently located at the corner between Campbell Street and Olrig Street, forming a group with the opposite number 16 Olrig Street, with the end gables of both buildings fronting Olrig Street as a visual pair.

Historic Interest

Age and rarity

Dating to the early 19^th century, 1 Campbell Street is a good representative example of a traditional burgh house built as part of the early 19th century extension of Thurso.

The two-storey, three or four-bay burgh house is the predominant domestic building type found in market towns and villages throughout Scotland, most of which were built during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Early 19^th century burgh houses are a prolific building type across Scotland however, good surviving examples which retain much of their historic character may be listed.

1 Campbell Street largely retains its early 19^th century streetscape character including its traditional form, footprint and prominent end gable. It is of historical significance as a notable surviving example of a house built as part of the early planned expansion of Thurso in the early 19^th century following the New Town plan.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56647411

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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  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
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  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
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  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
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  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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