History in Structure

High Kirk Mausoleum, Townhead, Rothesay, Bute

A Category A Listed Building in Rothesay, Argyll and Bute

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Coordinates

Latitude: 55.8287 / 55°49'43"N

Longitude: -5.0577 / 5°3'27"W

OS Eastings: 208579

OS Northings: 663723

OS Grid: NS085637

Mapcode National: GBR FFW9.Q1J

Mapcode Global: WH1LM.8RTJ

Plus Code: 9C7PRWHR+FW

Entry Name: High Kirk Mausoleum, Townhead, Rothesay, Bute

Listing Name: High Kirk of Rothesay, Bute Mausoleum

Listing Date: 2 April 1971

Category: A

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 386377

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB40446

Building Class: Cultural

Also known as: Bute, Rothesay, Townhead, High Kirk Mausoleum

ID on this website: 200386377

Location: Rothesay

County: Argyll and Bute

Town: Rothesay

Electoral Ward: Isle of Bute

Traditional County: Buteshire

Tagged with: Mausoleum

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Description

Late 18th century. Pedimented rectangular-plan single storey mausoleum; single bay at front and rear, 2-bay at sides. Whitewashed harl; weatherbeaten red sandstone dressings. Sandstone base course; raised lintel course beneath corniced eaves; broken architraved pediments to E and W; symmetrically-disposed panelled obelisk pinnacles; ornamental urn-shaped finials.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: boarded timber door at centre; surrounding doorpiece comprising flanking pilasters, rectangular panel centred above, segmental-arched pediment. Armorial panel set in projecting medallion centred in apex; urn-shaped finial above. Advanced clasping corner pilasters to outer left and right; tapering pinnacles above.

N (SIDE) ELEVATION: 2-bay. Advanced pilaster at centre, tapering pinnacle above; advanced clasping corner pilasters to outer left and right; blind bays set between.

E (REAR) ELEVATION: central window comprising Y-tracery, architraved mullions, flanking fluted pilasters, projecting cill, segmental-arched pediment; urn-shaped finial aligned above. Advanced clasping corner pilasters to outer left and right; tapering pinnacles above.

S (SIDE) ELEVATION: 2-bay. Advanced pilaster at centre, tapering pinnacle above; advanced clasping corner pilasters to outer left and right; blind bays set between.

Grey slate roof; raised skews.

INTERIOR: not seen 1996.

Statement of Interest

An interesting sructure, severely weatherbeaten. Walker describes the building as "...rudely eclectic", combining "...baroque broken pediments, Gothick tracery and six squat neo-classical obelisk finials." The High Kirk is listed separately (see separate designation record). Rothesay is one of Scotland's premier seaside resorts, developed primarily during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and incorporates an earlier medieval settlement. The town retains a wide range of buildings characteristic of its development as a high status 19th century holiday resort, including a range of fine villas, a Victorian pier and promenade. The history and development of Rothesay is defined by two major phases. The development of the medieval town, centred on Rothesay Castle, and the later 19th and early 20th century development of the town as a seaside resort. Buildings from this later development, reflect the wealth of the town during its heyday as a tourist destination, and include a range of domestic and commercial architecture of a scale sometimes found in larger burghs. Both the 19th and early 20th century growth of the town, with a particular flourish during the inter-war period, included areas of reclaimed foreshore, particularly along the coast to the east of the town and around the pier and pleasure gardens. (List description revised as part of Rothesay listing review 2010-11).

External Links

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