Description

A Marshall Mackenzie, architect and John Morgan, builder, 1895; later additions and alterations. 2-storey basement and attic, 4-bay pair of semi-detached villas. Rough faced coursed grey granite ashlar, finely finished to contrasting pale grey margins at NW elevation; coursed granite rubble to remainder. Ground floor cill course; dividing band course; moulded cills to NW elevation.

NW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical; 4-bay comprising mirrored pair of 2-bay villas; 2 broad round-arched doorways to centre bays of ground floor, jambs waisted towards base, moulded impost detail above, finely finished voussoirs with keystone detail, doors deeply recessed, pilastered pair of small-pane glazed timber doors to each with broad small-pane fanlight; 2 windows to 1st floor above; 2 large gableted dormers set in mansard infill at attic floor. Gabled outer bays, 3-light canted windows to ground floor of each, with parapet enclosing balcony to 1st floor; tripartite windows to 1st floor; attic floor slightly advanced on corbel brackets, tripartite windows centred in gableheads, queenpost details and overhanging eaves, iron sunflower finials to apexes.

SW ELEVATION: gabled.

SE ELEVATION: near-symmetrical; full-height basement; doorways to centre 2 bays of basement floor, bipartite windows flanking to outer bays; 2 windows to centre 2 bays of ground floor with balcony adjoining projecting timber lean-to oriels to outer bays; regular fenestration to centre bays of 1st floor, bipartite windows flanking to outer bays; 2 7-light dormers with catslide roofs to attic floor.

NE ELEVATION: gabled; window to centre of ground and 1st floor.

Predominantly timber sash and case windows with plate glass or 2-pane lower sashes and small-pane upper sashes; some replacement glazing to SE elevation. Grey slate roof with terracotta ridge. Stone skews with blocked skewputts. Coped gablehead and stacks breaking pitch with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIORS: not seen 2000.

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan rough-faced granite gatepiers to NW (shared with adjacent villas), with low coped walls between; granite coped rubble walls dividing gardens to NW; high brick coped rubble walls to S, swept down.

Statement of Interest

B-Group with 37-39, 41-43, 49-51 and 53 Queen's Road (see separate listings). From the beginning of the 19th century Aberdeen rapidly expanded westwards from Union Street. 45 and 47 Queen's Road is part of the later 19th century development W of Queen's Cross. Queen's Road is on the site of Skene Road, which was originally surrounded by the estate of Rubislaw. In 1877 Rubislaw Estate was bought by the City of Aberdeen Land Association, who re-aligned the road and sold off the estate in smaller plots. Streets became wider and villas with substantial gardens often replaced terraces. Prestigious architects, such as A Marshall Mackenzie, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. Mackenzie designed many of the adjacent villas, notably 37-39, 41-43 and 49-51 Queen's Road, which follow the same formula as 45-47 Queen's Road, and 53 Queen's Road, which is a single villa version of the above. This particular group shows the influence of the architecture of Pirie and Clyne (seen best at Hamilton Place, see separate listings), common features include the waisted jambs flanking the doorways, parapet between gables and the iron sunflower finials. John Morgan, the builder, also patronised Pirie and Clyne, and was involved in their buildings at Hamilton Place, so it seems likely that he could have encouraged the use of the aforementioned features.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56625409

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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