Description

Brown and Watt, 1896. 2-storey, basement and attic, 3-bay villa. Rough-faced grey granite ashlar with finely finished long and short dressings to S elevation; Aberdeen bond granite rubble to remainder. Base course; dividing band course; long and short quoins; eaves course; overhanging eaves supported by timber modillions.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical; Tuscan columned and pilastered porch to centre bay of ground floor, clasped between advanced flanking bays, surmounted by stone balustrade, 2-leaf panelled timber door flanked by leaded panels and fanlight, glazed 2-leaf door with fanlight to balcony at 1st floor; flanking bays to left and right advanced, 4-light canted windows to ground floors with parapets forming balconies to 1st floor; bipartite windows to 1st floor; glazed rectangular-plan cupola to apex of attic floor with piended roof.

E ELEVATION: asymmetrical; 2-bay; regular fenestration to basement, ground and 1st floors of bay to left, 4-light canted window to ground floor of bay to right, tripartite window to 1st floor above; canted oriel dormer to centre of attic floor. Single storey and attic wing adjoining to outer right.

N ELEVATION: asymmetrical; piend-roofed single storey and attic wing advanced to left; 2 small windows to centre bay of ground floor, large stained glass stair window to 1st floor above; regular fenestration to flanking bay to right.

W ELEVATION: asymmetrical; bipartite window to centre bay of ground floor, single window above; regular fenestration to bay to left.

Timber sash and case windows to S elevation; PVCu windows to remainder. Piended green-grey slate roof with lead ridges. Corniced wallhead stacks with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: tiled floor to entrance porch, pilastered panelled inner door with leaded upper pane and fanlight; elaborately plastered ceiling in hall; timber staircase with turned balusters; mouldings survive.

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan tooled granite ashlar gatepiers to S with pyramidal caps, low stepped ashlar walls between punctuated by oblong piers with corniced necks; brick and granite coped rubble walls to remainder.

Statement of Interest

From the beginning of the 19th century Aberdeen rapidly expanded westwards from Union Street. 46 Rubislaw Den North is part of the late 19th century development W of Queen's Cross. Rubislaw Den South 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 Brown and Watt, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. Brown and Watt designed some of the most unusual houses is this area of Aberdeen. 46 Rubislaw Den South has less of Brown and Watt's characteristically unusual detailing, however the classical porch, good interior and decorative glass are all of note.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56625501

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

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990