Description

Robert Gordon Wilson, 1901. 2-storey and attic, 2-bay near-square-plan villa with service wing to the rear. Tooled grey granite ashlar with finely finished margins to S; Aberdeen bond granite to remainder. Rough-faced contrasting dark grey granite base course; ground and 1st floor cill courses; dividing band course; eaves course; overhanging eaves.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; widely spaced tripartite window to ground floor of bay to right, rectangular-plan tripartite window advanced to bay to left; pair of tripartite windows to 1st floor above; pedimented dormer with oval window opening, flanked by timber scrolls to centre of attic floor.

E ELEVATION: central gablet; pair of windows off-centre to right of ground and 1st floors; 2-storey wing to outer right.

N ELEVATION: asymmetrical; gabled wing advanced to left; 3-light canted window with piended roof to right of ground floor, bipartite window to 1st floor above, flanked by narrow windows to centre; rectangular dormer and skylight to attic floor.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; central gablet; flat-roofed porch advanced to centre of ground floor, bipartite window to left return, deeply chamfered round-arched doorway with banded rustication and keystone detail to right return, panelled timber door reached by stone steps, timber fanlight above. Venetian stair window to centre of 1st floor above; small window to ground floor to right.

Predominantly small-pane timber sash and case windows, some PVCu windows. Piended and gabled grey slate roof with lead ridges. Corniced gablehead stacks and stacks breaking pitch with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: fine oak panelled hallway with timber seat recessed within pilastered segmental-arch under stair; panelled timber doors with decorative architraves; mouldings and some fireplaces survive.

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan rough-faced granite gatepiers to S, spherical finial to that to left, pyramidal cap to right, low stepped granite wall 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. 64 Rubislaw Den South is part of the late 19th/early 20th 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 R G Wilson (1844-1931), were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. 64 Rubislaw Den South contrasts sharply with the once neighbouring (now divided by a new house) light hearted 62 Rubislaw Den South (see separate listing), also by Wilson. 64 Rubislaw Den South, which was built for James H Jackson, a bookbinder, simply detailed, with an unusually high window to wall ratio. The oak panelled interior is also of note.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17769847

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

• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)