Description

William Kelly, 1901. 2-storey and attic, 2-bay villa. Tooled coursed granite ashlar to ground floor, squared and snecked ashlar to 1st floor of S elevation, finely finished to margins; granite rubble to remainder. Dividing string course; contrasting light grey long and short dressings to 1st floor of S elevation; overhanging eaves with timber bargeboards.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; gabled bay advanced to left, tripartite window to ground floor, bipartite window with projecting cill to 1st floor, chamfered to reveals, 3-light canted oriel window set in harled gablehead, billet-moulded eaves course, deeply chamfered outer angles, small windows to 1st floor with ogee lintel detail; recessed bay to right, window to ground floor, bipartite window to 1st floor, deeply chamfered outer right angle with small windows to ground and 1st floors.

E ELEVATION: M-gabled; 2-storey wing adjoining to right.

N ELEVATION: not seen 2000.

W ELEVATION: M-gabled; segmental-arched doorway to centre of ground floor with stained-glass fanlight, window to 1st floor above, single window to outer right, addition to outer left.

Predominantly timber sash and case windows, 2-pane lower sashes and small-pane uppers. Graded slate roof with lead ridges. Corniced gablehead stacks with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not seen 2000.

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

Statement of Interest

From the beginning of the 19th century Aberdeen rapidly expanded westwards from Union Street. 58 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 William Kelly, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. 58 Rubislaw Den North is one of 4 houses on the N side of Rubislaw Den North designed by William Kelly (partly speculatively), however it is of different, more substantial design to the others (60-64 Rubislaw Den North, see separate listings). 62 Rubislaw Den North was Kelly's own house. According to Simpson, Kelly's domestic commissions were carried out to the highest standards. He also notes that "most of them were enriched with Morris wall-papers and furnishings, De Morgan tiles, leaded glass-work and other features designed to have them as artistically satisfying as he [Kelly] could make them" (Simpson, p7).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17780257

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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