Description

James Cowie, 1894. 3-storey, 6-bay, slightly asymmetrical, rectangular-plan, retro-Mannerist, tenements with shops at ground. Squared and snecked, droved red sandstone with ashlar margins. Cill course between ground and 1st floor, eaves course and cornice.

NE (MAIN STREET) ELEVATION: modern shop fronts at ground with square headed pend to 1st bay. Venetian window with hoodmould broken by projecting keystone to1st floor outer left bay; square-headed window breaking eaves to 2nd floor with medallion pediment with 'DN' cipher. Slightly canted window to 1st floor of 2nd bay to left; segmental headed, 3-light window above; all inscribed by blocked cavetto moulded arch and flanking quoins. Corniced attic storey. 2 bays repeated in bays 3 to 6. Except medallion ciphers:'1874' in bay 3, 'DN' in bay 5.

SW (REAR) ELEVATION: irregular fenestration. 2 large advanced, brick stair towers with lean-to roofs.

NW (SIDE) ELEVATION: obscured by abutting building.

SE (SIDE) ELEVATION: obscured by abutting building.

Predominantly plate glass timber sash and case windows with modern double glazing to bays 1 and 2. Finialed piended roofs to attic storey bays. Grey slates, lead flashing. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not seen 2000.

Statement of Interest

James Cowie was a Wishaw architect who designed several of the large red sandstone tenements on Main St and many small villas in the surrounding area, none of the latter being of particular note. 231-257 Main St though, like the many other tenements in Wishaw, was built as a speculative concern and is his most complete and impressive large building. It compares most closely with his smaller building for the Wishaw Co-op Society of 1898 which stands opposite on Main St. Both of which are in the monumental Glasgow style of classicism. Cowie's own house 43 Clelland Rd (See separate listing) is by far his best work in Wishaw.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77775703

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

• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)