Description

Campbell Douglas and J J Stevenson, 1860-9; Robert Lorimer remodelled house and designed new garden, 1913; later alterations. Jacobean dwelling house converted in mid-20th century into school for disabled children.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: large porte-cochere with ground balustrade and ball finials to entrance; modern extension at ground behind with gabled dormer windows above. 3-storey, 3-bay section to left; single windows in outer bays at ground; single windows at 1st floor; single window in central bay at 2nd floor surmounted by carving; gable decorated with 5 finials. 6 small pane windows in section to left.

E ELEVATION: adjoining building

S ELEVATION: 2-storey, 5-bay main block. Single storey canted bay in centre with 4 lights; single gabled dormer above; single windows at ground floor and gabled dormers flanking at left and right. Projecting section to right; 2-storey canted bay with 4 lights; parapet crowned with ball finials; gable head decorated with ball finials. 2-storey canted bay at left; parapet crowned with ball finials. Extension with round arched windows to left; modern extension too.

W ELEVATION: adjoining building.

Variety of small pane and leaded glazing patterns. Grey slate roof; straight skews; tall, corniced stacks.

INTERIOR: remodelled for school use and wheelchair access but a lot of the original interior survives. ? timber panelled stair hall; coffered ceiling to hall with egg and dart and dentilled cornices and scrolled brackets decorated with shells; loggia of 3 arches lead to stair well; arch motif continued to stair well; timber architrave to elevator with fluted pilaster strips. Canted bay in SE classroom timber panelled; area framed by pilaster strips and foliate scrolled brackets; staff-room above has coved ceiling with coffers; circular recesses in centre of coffers, both have decorative borders. Naturalistic cornices and brackets to most of the larger rooms.

GARDEN: N terrace wall running E to W with central stair and ramp. Statue of Girl by Pilkington Jackson stands within rubble circle surrounded by a round box hedge in W end of garden. Topiary trees run along S edge of garden.

Statement of Interest

B-Group with 5 Ellersly Road. Built by Glasgow architects, Campbell Douglas and J J Stevenson. Westerlea House was bought by the British Red Cross in December 1947 for the 'Welfare of Spastics' and the building is now a school run by Capability Scotland.

A statue group by Charles Mackie previously stood at the E end of the garden but this has now been moved to the National Museums of Scotland in Chambers Street, Edinburgh. It is the only known sculpture by this artist.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17795244

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

• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)