Description

Circa 1867 with later alterations and additions. 2-storey, 3-bay square-plan piended villa with advanced central bay and further advanced 5-light central bay window; single storey T-plan addition projecting from NE angle at rear. Cement-rendered and lined with cement dressings; ashlar dressing to central bay. Plain margins to openings; chamfered reveals to bay window.

W (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: square bay with tripartite window and narrow window in each return at ground in bay to centre; window at 1st floor above. Window at each floor in each bay flanking.

E (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: irregular, 5-bay. Tall stair window with small oculus below in bay to centre. Window at each floor in bay to left. Timber-panelled door with lying-pane fanlight in recessed bay to left; window to outer left flaking; window set between at 1st floor above. Single storey projection from bay to outer right.

N (SIDE) ELEVATION: 2-bay main block with 2-bay addition to left. Main block: window at each floor in bay to right. Window at ground in bay to left. Wide tripartite window in each bay to addition to left.

S (SIDE) ELEVATION: window at each floor in bay to left. Timber-panelled door with lying-pane fanlight at ground in recessed bay to right.

12- and 6-pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slate piended roof to main block; grey slate roof to additions; stone ridges; twin harled, corniced ridge stacks; predominantly uPVC rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not fully seen, 1998.

Statement of Interest

Childhood home of painter Stanley Cursiter. A remarkably intact villa, classically planned with main rooms arranged around a central stairwell. A single storey addition alters the original square plan, but does not affect the simple symmetricality of the principal elevation. It retains its original small-pane glazing pattern and pair of stacks. One of the flagstones which forms a paved area outside the rear entrance has been signed by the noted Orkney artist, Stanley Cursiter, whose father, John had the house built around 1867. Another noted Orkney personality, the writer and historian Hugh Marwick also lived at Alton House from 1930 until 1965. A plan of the building presently hanging in the house is dated 1880, and signed by a Mr Miller, Surveyor, Kirkwall. It was then known as Alton Cottage.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17827852

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

• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)