Description

Earlier to mid 19th century with later alterations. 2-storey, 3-bay square-plan piended plain classical house with ball-finialled, pitch-roofed porch with shaped gable; ancillary structures to rear (NE) forming rectangular courtyard, comprising single storey, crowstepped range (former byre) to NW, single storey and attic range (former cartshed/grain store) to SE, single storey, crowstepped range (former byre?) to NE. Squared and coursed rubble with ashlar dressings; base course and long and short quoins to porch.

SW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: window in porch at ground in bay to centre; timber panelled door in left return; window at 1st floor above. Window at each floor in each bay flanking.

NW (SIDE) ELEVATION: window at each floor in each bay.

NE (REAR) ELEVATION: single storey, lean-to projection with window at ground in bay to centre; tall stair window above. 2-leaf boarded door to gabled entrance in bay to right. Full-height ancillary range projecting from bay to left.

Predominantly 2-pane timber sash and case windows; 12-pan timber sash and case windows to porch and to rear lean-to; externally double glazed stair window. Grey slate roof; paired corniced, rubble stacks; cylindrical cans; predominantly uPVC rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not seen, 1998.

ANCILLARY STRUCTURES: SE RANGE: roofless, 2-bay, divided internally; boarded door in bay to right to NW elevation; square-headed doorway in bay to left.

NW RANGE: SE (COURTYARD) ELEVATION: irregular 5-bay (2-bay at 1st floor). Boarded doors with small-pane fanlights at ground in bay to centre. Similar door in bay to left; window at 1st floor above. Window at ground in bay to outer left. Window at each floor in bay to right of centre. Sliding, boarded door at ground in bay to outer right.

Timber-framed, small-pane windows; louvered opening at 1st floor to NW range. Grey slate to NW range; modern grey slate to SE range.

INTERIORS: not seen, 1998.

BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATEPIERS: rubble walls to SW boundary; square-plan coursed rubble gatepiers with urn-finialled cap; fleur-de-lys-headed shafts to single cast-iron gate.

Statement of Interest

Elegantly proportioned with a finialled and shaped gabled porch, Vorsheed retains its tall paired stacks and surviving associated farm buildings to rear. It bears similarities to other houses in Kirkwall, namely, 8 Old Scapa Road, Daisybank House and Lilybank House (all listed separately).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77773583

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

• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments