Description

1881; with later roof 1886. 3-storey, basement and attic, 5-bay Italianate townhouse with balustraded pavilion roof and Francois Ier dormers; set on prominent corner site at end of terraces. Sandstone ashlar channelled at basement. Base course; banded cill course at ground floor. Moulded cill courses at 1st and 2nd floors. Dentilled corniced eaves course. Parapet, balustraded between panelled piers. Interior believed to contain fine baroque detailing (see Notes).

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: curved rectangular 3-light bay at ground floor left, integrated with central Roman Doric porch with sidelights and rectangular fanlight. Moulded architraved window to right (S) at ground floor with bracketed cornice rising to blind balustraded pedimented 1st floor window. Moulded architraved windows at 1st floor (bipartite to N); consoled (pedimented to flanking bays), shouldered architraved windows at 2nd floor (bipartite to N). 3 pedimented pilastered and corniced rectangular timber dormers, 3 further round arched timber dormers above. Prominent consoled wallhead chimney.

S (CHESTER STREET) ELEVATION: 5 bays with slightly advanced end bays. Consoled balconies at 1st floor, now missing iron-work (2008). Bracketed and pedimented to centre and outside at 1st floor, otherwise corniced. Bracketed cills at 2nd floor.

Plate glass in timber sash and case, some 3-pane glazing at attic storey. Double pitch M-section roof with scalloped leadwork; grey slates. Large wallhead stack in sandstone ashlar with fielded panels and scrolls to side; modern clay cans.

Statement of Interest

This large well-detailed townhouse provides a key visual termination to both Chester Street and Palmerston Place. It appears to have been specifically designed for the corner site to terminate the run of surrounding classical terraces which it abuts. The S elevation is reminiscent of the Robert Brown pavilions for the Walker Estate in Coates Crescent (see separate listing) albeit on a grander scale. The W elevation also refers to the earlier Lessels scheme in Palmerston Place. The later roof is complimentary to the overall design and appears French in influence, including a double attic storey expressed externally with lavishly detailed dormers, it was built for William McEwan, the owner of the house at the time.

Secondary sources suggest that a high quality Victorian Baroque interior is still extant, with a large and well detailed central stair with timber panelling and an engraved glass dome on narrow pendentives. Richly detailed baroque doorcases feature throughout.

The house is now in use as a hostel and is connected internally to 1 Douglas Gardens (see separate listing). (2008)

(List description revised 2009 as part of re-survey.)

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata IDs Q17796679 Q17809601

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)