Description

James Shearer, 1934. 3-storey; 6-bay; rectangular-plan; fire station. Asymmetrical modernist design with tall parapet to roof to principal (S) and most of side elevations; horizontal banding; prominent training tower to NW corner and large triple entranceway to principal (S) elevation. Exterior largely harled with exposed engineering brick to most of ground floor and elsewhere; ashlar dressings. Cill and lintel courses to 1st and 2nd floors to principal elevation and parts of side elevations; band course above 2nd floor windows to tallest stage of main block; 2nd floor cill band to part of W elevation. Engineering brick courses to upper levels of descent tower and training tower.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: large triple entranceway with wide engineering brick architrave to centre; 3 large entrances (for fire engines), each with deep splayed jambs; narrow ashlar connecting lintel supporting deep parapet with flanking moulded ashlar finials; glazed replacement doors. Pedestrian entrance adjoins outer left jamb; 2-leaf panelled timber door; cantilevered stone canopy above extends across window to left; carved coat of arms above door. Pair of windows to outer right of ground floor. Rectangular-plan oriel (lower sections in engineering brick) rising to roof to outer left of 1st and 2nd floors; 5 regular bays (window to each) to right.

W ELEVATION: slightly projecting engineering brick bay rising to 2nd floor cill level to right; flanking moulded ashlar finials at apex; geometric stone panel above upper of 2 slightly recessed windows. 3 bays to left; entrance to central one to ground floor. 2 windows to centre to 2nd floor. Parapet stepped down along roof in 2 stages to left. Entrance to outer right.

E ELEVATION: slightly projecting section to left; 2 windows to ground floor; window to each of upper levels to right return. Small single storey engineering brick section to re-entrant; large glazed section set back above; entrance set back to right. Descent tower to outer right; narrow window to each of 3 levels.

N ELEVATION: 3 large entrances (for fire engines) to ground floor. 5 alternating wide and narrow windows set within engineering brick band to floor above. 3 boxed dormers to upper floor. Descent tower adjoins to outer left; entrance to ground floor; narrow and wider windows on alternate levels. 6-stage training tower projects to outer right; entrance to ground floor; opening to each level above. Window set back to outer right of ground floor.

Multi-pane steel casements with top hoppers. Roofing material not seen.

INTERIOR: internal doors renewed. Pole shafts intact to descent tower.

Statement of Interest

A well designed 1930's modernist building. Something of a departure for Shearer, who did a lot of work for the Carnegie Trust.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17816542

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

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)