Description

Duncan and J Ross MacMillan, 1907. 2-storey and attic, 3-bay villa. Tooled coursed grey granite ashlar finely finished to margins. Dividing string course forming 1st floor cill course; half-timbered detail to gableheads; overhanging eaves with timber bargeboards.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; broad gabled bay advanced to centre, 5-light canted window with crenellated parapet to ground floor, quadripartite window to 1st floor, PVCu glazed 3-light oriel on brackets to attic floor, windows to left return; recessed bay to left, flat-roofed porch with 2-leaf boarded timber door to ground floor, flanked to right by narrow window and to left by bipartite window; tripartite window to 1st floor breaking eaves with crenellated parapet; recessed bay to right, ground floor not seen (2000), tripartite window to 1st floor.

E ELEVATION: gabled; 2-storey gabled bay advanced to left, quadripartite windows to ground and 1st floors, single storey gabled bay advanced to right of ground floor with broad window to centre; remainder not seen 2000.

N ELEVATION: not seen 2000.

W ELEVATION: gabled; bipartite window to right of ground floor, single storey addition to left.

Predominantly timber sash and case windows with small pane upper sashes. Slate roof with lead ridges. Coped and corniced ridge and wallhead stacks with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not seen 2000.

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan gatepiers to S with pyramidal caps, low coped ashlar wall between; coped rubble walls to remainder.

Statement of Interest

From the beginning of the 19th century Aberdeen rapidly expanded westwards from Union Street. 54 Rubislaw Den North is part of the late 19th/early 20th century development W of Queen's Cross. Rubislaw Den North runs almost parallel to Queen's Road (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 Skene Road and sold off the estate in smaller plots. Streets became wider and villas with substantial gardens often replaced terraces. Prestigious architects, such as the MacMillans, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. 54 Rubislaw Den North is an odd mix of inspired details, such as the half-timbered gableheads and stone mullioned windows, with Scots baronial crenellated parapets.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56625466

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

• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)