26 Argyle Place, Rothesay, Bute, Rothesay, Argyll and Bute

Description

Dated 1894; flatted mid 20th century. Asymmetrical 2-storey with basement, 3-bay free style former manse with full-height single bay recessed to outer right; entered at front (ground) and rear (1st floor). Predominantly coursed stugged red sandstone; polished red sandstone dressings. Bull-faced red sandstone plinth; architraved string course; overhanging corniced timber-bracketed eaves. Raised, polished quoins; raised long and short surrounds to chamfered openings; stone mullions; chamfered cills. Full-height engaged polygonal tower to outer left; harled at sides; harl-pointed rubble at rear.

E (ENTRANCE GROUND FLOOR FLAT) ELEVATION: recessed entrance at ground in bay to outer right comprising 2-leaf timber panelled door; round-arched fanlight; architraved round-arched surround with raised keystone, pediment above projecting string course; armorial panel dated "1894" at 1st floor. 5-light canted window at ground off-set to right of centre; flush tripartite window centred in gable breaking eaves above. Bipartite windows at both floors in central bay; full-height engaged tower in bay to outer left comprising opaque-glazed bipartites at basement, bipartite windows in each facet at ground and 1st floors.

W (REAR ENTRANCE 1ST FLOOR FLAT) ELEVATION: stairs to projecting 1st floor entrance off-set to left of centre; 2-leaf timber door; 9-light stained-glass stair window set behind (part blocked by later entrance); 2 small single openings at ground beneath stair. Bipartite window at ground in bay to outer left; single window at 1st floor off-set to right. Full-height piended single bay addition off-set to right of centre.

N (SIDE) ELEVATION: bipartite windows at both floors in bay to outer right; tripartite window centred at ground; bipartite window aligned above. Blind bay at both floors in bay to outer left.

S (SIDE) ELEVATION: piended single storey addition recessed to outer left; replacement single window at ground in advanced bay to outer left; tripartite window above. Bipartite windows at both floors in central bay; bipartite window at 1st floor in bay to outer right.

Predominantly 2-pane timber sash and case windows; 12-light upper (part-stained), plate-glass lower glazing at sides; modern glazing at ground to S; original decorative leaded stair window at rear. Graded grey slate M-gabled roof; coped ridge and apex stacks to N; various circular cans. Decorative finial surmounting tower.

INTERIOR: subdivided to form 2 separate flats; linking stair boxed in (property ground floor flat). Some original cornice-work; timber panelling; ceiling roses; timber panelled doors; skirting boards.

BOUNDARY WALL AND GATEPIERS: stepped low coped boundary wall (part rendered) to S and E boundaries. Regularly-disposed coursed bull-faced red sandstone piers with cornice and ball-shaped finials; replacement cast-iron pedestrian entry gate. Red ashlar armorial panel centred within coped round-arch at SE.

Statement of Interest

An interesting house with a prominent sea-front position and some good architectural features - in particular, the retention of most of the original glazing. Note also the 2-leaf timber panelled door, dated armorial panel and sandstone stacks. Internal subdivision has been done in such a way as to make it possible to re-convert to form a single house. Marked as a manse on the 1896 Ordnance Survey map.

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).

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