Description

Mid to later 19th century; refurbished late 20th century. Classically-detailed 4-storey tenement forming end of terrace with shops at ground; 5 bays to West Princes Street (N); 2 bays to Watergate (W) with prominent bowed corner to NW. Corinthian-pilastered arcaded shopfronts at ground comprising raised base course, timber panelling, plain frieze and deep cornice with shop signage. Painted render to upper floors; deep cornice at 2nd floor; attic storey above with pedimented windows breaking eaves. Architraved and corniced windows at 1st floor; architraved windows at 2nd floor; triangular pedimented windows at 3rd floor. Balustraded blocking course to centre of West Princes Street elevation.

N (WEST PRINCES STREET) ELEVATION: shop front at ground floor. Part-glazed timber panelled door at ground recessed to right of centre (Bute House Hotel); foliate wrought-iron lamp-stand centred above. Later doors at ground in bays to left; glazing set between. 3-light canted windows to 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors to outer left with angular pediment and ball-finial above. Slightly recessed full-height bowed bay to outer right angle comprising later door at ground, single windows to 1st and 2nd floors, single window at 3rd floor with triangular pediment and three ball-shaped finials.

W (WATERGATE) ELEVATION: arcaded shop at ground. Regular fenestration.

Predominantly plate glass timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roof; decorative rainwater goods beneath 3rd floor cornice. Corniced ridge and apex stacks to E and S; various circular cans.

Statement of Interest

2 ' 8 West Princes Street is a good example of a classically detailed tenement, with commercial premises at ground floor. The building is set prominently within the heart of Rothesay and is well-detailed, with pedimented windows, deep cornicing, and an arcaded ground floor shop front. The building is comparatively richly detailed for its location within a relatively small town and this is characteristic of the high quality later 19th century developments in Rothesay which was an important holiday destination during this period. The town displays a number of well-detailed buildings, including commercial and residential buildings, particularly in close proximity to the pier and seafront promenade.

Rothesay is one of Scotland's premier seaside resorts, developed primarily during the second half of the 19th and the early 20th centuries, and it 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 more often 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 Q77770244

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

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
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  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)