Description

Dated 1772; rehabilitated 1985. Symmetrical 2-storey, 3-bay plain classical style flatted house forming end of terrace; entered at front (ground floor) and rear (1st floor). Random red rubble sandstone; polished red sandstone dressings. Raised eaves course; corniced eaves. Prominent long and short quoins; tooled long and short rubble surrounds to polished openings; pilastered entrance. Harl-pointed rubble at rear; raised, rendered surrounds; exterior red-brick stair centred at rear.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: timber panelled door centred at ground; 5-light fanlight; surrounding doorpiece comprising fluted Doric pilasters, triglyph frieze detailing, cornice. Single window aligned above entrance; single windows at both floors in bays to outer left and right.

E (REAR) ELEVATION: cast-iron balustraded stair to upper entrance centred at 1st floor; timber panelled door; small single window in bay to right. Single windows at both floors in bays to outer left and right.

Replacement 12-pane timber sash and case windows to Union Street; replacement 2-pane timber glazing to rear. Graded grey slate roof; raised skews; rendered, corniced apex stacks; various circular cans.

INTERIOR: not seen 1996.

BOUNDARY WALL: low coped random rubble wall to Union Street; replacement timber pedestrian entry gate.

Statement of Interest

Winner of the Saltire Society Commendation for rehabilitation. Wood's map (1825) suggests that this was built before the adjoining block which derives from the earlier to mid 19th century (see list entry for Nos 17, 19 and 21 Russell Street). Dated 1772, 2 Union Street is one of the oldest remaining houses in Rothesay. Prior to rehabilitation by the Bute Housing Association in 1985, this 3-bay block contained 8 flats and had access to a row of brick buildings in the yard housing 8 WCs.

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

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17903003

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
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas