Description

W & J Smith and William Kelly, 1895-6. 2-storey and attic, 2-bay villa. Tooled coursed granite ashlar to ground floor, Aberdeen bond ashlar to 1st floor of S elevation, finely finished to margins; granite rubble to remainder. Roughly tooled base course; contrasting light grey long and short dressings to 1st floor of S elevation; overhanging eaves.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; 5-light canted window to right at ground floor with parapet forming balcony to 1st floor, bipartite window to 1st floor; bipartite window to ground floor of bay to left, single window to 1st floor above; piend-roofed dormer centred to attic floor.

E ELEVATION: asymmetrical; panelled timber door to centre between ground and 1st floor, reached by flight of stone step with iron railings; window to left of 1st floor, 3 windows to right; single storey wing adjoining to outer right.

N ELEVATION: not seen 2000.

W ELEVATION: symmetrical; doorway to centre of ground floor, panelled timber door with decoratively glazed upper pane, window to 1st floor above.

Predominantly small-pane timber sash and case windows. Piended green-grey slate roof with lead ridges. Wallhead 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. 62 and 62A Rubislaw Den North is part of the late 19th 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. 60 Rubislaw Den North is one of 4 houses on the N side of Rubislaw Den North designed by William Kelly (partly speculatively) the others being 58, 60 and 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 Q17780278

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

• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6