Description

The conservatory was built between 1869-70 by the architect David Bryce as part of the former mansion known as Broadstone House, now largely demolished. The conservatory is stone framed, built of grey-pink sandstone ashlar and includes an octagonal plan section on the front and a rectangular plan block at the back forming together a nearly L-plan structure. There are tall stone mullioned double windows throughout, with 28-pane modern glazing separated by stone pilasters and modern vents panels have been inserted below each window. The conservatory features fine Scot-Baronial and Renaissance detailing including a stone embattled parapet with moulded cornicing and stone urns on top of each merlon. The octagonal section is covered by a glazed dome capped by an octagonal glazed lantern and decorated metal finial. The rectangular range features similar windows on the north and south elevations while the west elevation is characterised by glazing of different shapes divided by stone mullions and includes a glazed door at the bottom right, it is covered by sheet panel roofing. A later stone stair and ramp with glazed balustrade leads to the entrance. The east elevation of the conservatory is attached to the block of flats which was built in place of the mansion house in 2015-19.

The interiors of the conservatory have been modernised at the time of the new flatted development but were not seen in 2024.

Historical development

The conservatory was built as part of Broadstone House, a Scot-Baronial and Renaissance mansion designed by David Bryce in 1869-70. It was built for the Birkmyers family, owners of the Birkmyers ropeworks in Port Glasgow. The mansion included details inspired by Newark Castle and included a four-storey tower, a panel with letters 'ADV' and 'PKC' interwoven and 'architect 1870' and a stone interwoven decoration in the tympanum above the main entrance. This panel survives and is now located on the ground, at the main entrance of the new flatted block where the main portion of the mansion house stood.

Broadstone House appears on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 'Renfrewshire III.9” (Revised: 1896, Published: 1897) as Broadstone Castle. The site included the mansion with attached conservatory at west, Y-plan annex at east and detached L-plan coach house further to the east. A half-timbered gate lodge was built southwest of the mansion around 1911. This structure no longer survives.

The house was acquired by the Paisley and District Joint Committee and became part of Broadfield Hospital, a mental institution, around the 1920s. As shown on the Ordnance Survey Map "Drawing for Renfrewshire II.12” (Revised: 1938, Published: 1940) Broadstone House was the women's section of the hospital while the first established site of Broadfield Hospital, located further west, housed male patients.

In 1948, the hospital was transferred to the National Health Service and the building continued to be used as a psychiatric institution until its closure in 1985.

In 2001 the house was purchased by Muir Homes and was planned to be refurbished and transformed into flats as part of the wider Castlebank residential development.

A fire in 2004 led to the extensive loss to the mansion including all the interiors.

By 2012 two flats were created in the former coach house, partially retained as it was the least fire-damaged part of the site. The remainder of the building was stabilised as a ruin.

Around 2019 the newly built flatted development was constructed on the site of the main section of Broadstone House, the east wing was subdivided into flats and the conservatory was converted into a single dwelling with new modern interiors.

Statement of Interest

The former Broadfield Hospital (previously Broadstone House) conservatory meets the criteria for listing for the following reasons:

• The conservatory retains its historic fabric and original design and features fine Scot-Baronial and Renaissance architectural detailing, including the stone embattled parapet with moulded cornicing and stone urns and the elegant, glazed dome with octagonal glazed lantern and metal finial.

• Despite the demolition of Broadstone House, the conservatory itself retains intrinsic architectural interest in its surviving historic fabric and survival of its original design by the renowned architect David Bryce.

• The conservatory is known to be one of Bryce's most accomplished designs for this building type.
  
  
• It retains a its special architectural interest within its largely altered setting.

• The inclusion of a large conservatory in the design of a large country house in the mid-later 19th century is not unusual, however this example, formerly attached to Broadstone House displays exceptional design qualities, craftmanship and architectural detailing.

Architectural interest

The conservatory of the former Broadstone House, designed by the renowned architect, David Bryce, is a highly decorative surviving example of its building type.

The conservatory retains its historic fabric and original design and includes fine Scot-Baronial and Renaissance architectural detailing, including the stone embattled parapet with moulded cornicing and stone urns and the elegant, glazed dome with octagonal glazed lantern and metal finial. The building is a significant surviving example of its style, period and building type.

Although the structure has lost its historic interiors and underwent some alterations following its conversion into a modern dwelling, including the insertion of modern glazing and ventilation panels and the replacement of the pitched roof covering the rectangular range, these alterations have not affected the overall historic character and authentic appearance of the building. The survival of the conservatory as standalone structure remains impressive and has been described as "Bryce's conservatory design at its best and one of the finest of such buildings anywhere in Britain.” (Fiddes and Rowan, 1976)

David Bryce (1803 - 1876) was a prolific and highly renowned Scottish architect whose career spanned the middle of the 19th century, specialising in Gothic and latterly Scots Baronial style country houses and churches across Scotland. His work epitomises Scotland's national style during the Victorian period. His designs for country houses are recognised for their careful consideration of a building's plan form and function and its fine architectural detailing.

Broadstone House and the conservatory were built on sloping ground, in a commanding location overlooking the Clyde Estuary. The imposing location of the site and immediate setting has been largely lost due to the demolition of Broadstone House and its replacement with a tall modern block of flats. Also, the wider setting characterised by the house estate gardens has been altered as the surrounding area has been developed with modern housing as part of the Castlebank residential area.

Despite the demolition of the main portion of Broadstone House, the conservatory itself retains a high level of intrinsic architectural interest within its largely altered setting.

Historic interest

Broadstone House conservatory is a rare survival of this building type designed by the renowned architect David Bryce. Whilst conservatories attached to high status houses from the mid to later 19th century are common and followed the contemporary fashion and interest in horticulture and botanic gardens, larger and elaborately designed structures are rarer.

As the arbiter of architectural fashion, David Bryce often included conservatories and formal garden designs in his plans for Scots Baronial country houses. Some examples are listed as part of the main site such as at Capenoch House (LB10247), Balfour Castle (LB18615) and Castlemilk (LB16888)

The majority of Bryce country houses conservatories displayed a typical mullioned rectangular plan. The example at the former Broadstone House is one of the architects' most elaborately designed conservatories and the inclusion of the dome is a rare design feature more widely utilised for grand public garden structures (Glasgow Botanic Gardens Kibble Palace, LB32513; Edinburgh Botanic Gardens Palm House, LB27914; Palm House at Kew Gardens in London and the Great Conservatory at Chatsworth).

Conservatories were introduced in Britain around the 16th century and gradually evolved during the 18th century into more sophisticated and elegant structures. Conservatories saw a peak in construction in the early 19th century when they became fashionable among the upper and middle classes as a symbol of wealth and status, they were integral elements of country houses used to display plants as well as entertain guests.

Statutory address, category of listing changed from A to B and listed building record revised in 2025. Previously listed as 'Broadfield Hospital, Broadstone House, (Mental Home) Old Greenock Road'.

External Links

• Wikidata Q17570971

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

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)