Description

Circa 1910. Probably by John Alexander Carfrae. 3-storey symmetrical T-plan Renaissance building. Squared and snecked red sandstone rubble; red sandstone ashlar dressings. Advanced base course; mullions and transoms to large bipartite windows; transoms to large single windows; mullions to small bipartite windows; long and short surrounds to windows; strip quoins; cornice; skews and skewputts.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, CENTRAL SECTION: 9-bay. Symmetrical with advanced pilasters terminating in bracketed cornices above 1st floor; cornices support pedestals (decorated with relief lozenge) surmounted by attached columns to 2nd floor; obelisk finials. Large single windows flanking large bipartites to ground and 1st floors of central section; cornice to 1st floor; small single windows flanking small bipartite to 2nd floor. Large single windows flanking large bipartites to all floors of gabled sections flanking central 3-bay section; carved emblems of learning between 1st and 2nd floor bipartites; lozenge in relief to gables.

N ELEVATION, RECESSED SECTIONS: 6-bay; 3-bay gabled outer sections advanced. Large single windows flank large bipartites to both floors of outer sections; semicircular hoodmould to central window of 2nd floor. 2-leaf timber door to segmental-arched doorway to ground of advanced 5-stage tower to innermost bay; carved panel surmounting doorway; small leaded bipartite window above; small bipartite windows to next 2 stages above; cornice to trefoil-headed window set in recessed panel at upper stage; stone balustrade to roof. Small bipartites to 2 lower stages of bay adjacent to stair towers; large bipartite to ground of remaining bay; small bipartites to uppermost floor of both bays.

NW AND NE ELEVATIONS: 7-bay. 2-bay gabled sections to outer left and right respectively; 2 single windows to all floors. Large bipartites to ground and 1st floors of next 4 bays; small bipartites to 2nd floor of alternate bays; large bipartites breaking cornice in hoodmoulded semicircular pediments with ball finials to 2nd floor of alternate bays. Small bipartites to all 5 stages of bay at right angles to stair tower.

SW AND SE ELEVATIONS: 4-bay. 3 bay sections gabled to outer right and left respectively. Large single windows flank large bipartite windows to both floors of gabled bays. Single windows to both floors of remaining bay.

S ELEVATION: 17-bay, grouped 6-5-6. Pattern of alternative 2 and 3 single windows to 6 bay section to left; entrance porch and 2-leaf timber door and fanlight at ground to bay at right. Central gabled bay comprises tripartites at ground and 1st floor ; bipartites at 2nd floor. Bipartites at all floors in flanking bays. Single windows at ground and 1st floor in flanking canted bays; small bipartite at 2nd floor. Entrance porch to left in 6 bays to right; 2-leaf timber door; fanlight; two single windows aligned above. Single window at ground in bay to right. 3 single windows to next 3 bays. Central tripartite window to gabled bay to outer right; single window at ground.

Assortment of small-paned timber-framed windows: large bipartites 36-pane; single windows 12-pane sash and case; small bipartites 4-pane sash and case. Grey slate piended roof. Coped and corniced stacks. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: boarded dados and cupboard fittings; timber gallery seating; timber and glass concertina doors to central interior space; original ventilation fitting remains in attic.

BOUNDARY WALLS, GATES, GATEPIERS AND RAILINGS: coped, squared and snecked rubble boundary walls to Upper Gilmore Place with spiked iron railings. 2 sets of banded and corniced red sandstone gatepiers with ornamental wrought-iron gates. Various additional teaching blocks to all elevations.

Statement of Interest

James Gillespie's Schools, were formed in terms of a bequest by James Gillespie of Spylaw, a tobacconist and snuff-merchant in the High Street, who left the greater part of his property for the endowment of charitable schools, and the maintenance of old men and women.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77770388

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 Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Shredded Chef: 120 Recipes for Building Muscle, Getting Lean, and Staying Healthy
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)