Description

1938-42. Small council housing development of asymmetrical, 2-storey, vernacular terraces in Scottish 17th century style with stepped roofline, crowsteps, stone-pedimented and catslide dormerheads breakings eaves, roll-moulded doorways, some deep-set, and round-arched pend entrances, on triangular site with courtyard gardens to rear. Coursed and squared dressed rubble with ashlar dressings and raised cills. Rounded angles corbelled to square at 1st floor.

SE (ALBERT LANE) ELEVATION: 3-door elevation, 2 with tiny windows abutting eaves above, 1 in bowed bay at outer right; slightly projecting crowstepped gable in bay to right of centre; 2 pedimented and 1 catslide dormer; large out-of-character rooflight in bay to left of centre. Bay to outer left is 19 King Street.

N (HIGH STREET) ELEVATION: 4-door elevation, 1 with tiny window abutting eaves above, 2 in slightly advanced outer crowstepped gables; centre pend entrance and 4 catslide dormers. Early 17th century, category 'B' listed, No 51 High Street abutting at outer right. Panelled timber doors to Nos 53 and 59.

SW (KING STREET) ELEVATION: 4-door elevation, that to outer left with tiny window abutting eaves above; crowstepped gables in bays to left of centre and to outer right; 2 pedimented and 2 catslide dormers; centre pend entrance. Panelled timber doors to Nos 11 and 19.

E (THE CROSS) ELEVATION: 2-door elevation, that to left with tiny window abutting eaves above; 3 pedimented dormerheads; centre pend entrance. Panelled timber door to Nos 4 and 5. Bay to outer right is 59 High Street.

COURTYARD ELEVATIONS: little altered elevations retaining some vertically-boarded timber doors with 3-pane glazed top lights and letterbox fanlights, and some small cast-iron rooflights. Out-of-character box dormer to No 2 Albert Lane.

Largely modern uPVC and hardwood glazing. Grey slates. Ashlar stacks with cans; ashlar-coped skews with moulded skewputts

INTERIORS: plain, and largely modern (not all seen 2006).

Statement of Interest

Outstanding in its attention to detail and sympathetic dimensions on this strategic, but awkward, site in the heart of Stonehaven's Old Town. This local authority development (now largely in private ownership) is a fine example of social housing in the Scottish 17th century style predominant in the inter-war period for this building type. Stonehaven Burgh Council purchased the land from the Stonehaven Gas Company on 10th August, 1935. The owner of No 17 King Street has found a floorboard bearing the signature of an electrician and dated 1941. In 1944 a mine exploded in the harbour, sufficiently damaging the houses to force residents to leave, and not return for some two years. Close to some important historic landmarks, and just a few steps from the harbour, it remains a popular and sought after residential location.

Statutory address revised in 2021. Previously listed as '2 and 4 Albert Lane, 53, 55, 57 and 59 High Street, 11A, 15, 17 and 19 King Street, 4, 5 and 6 The Cross'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77777914

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.

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