Description

Sir James Gowans, 1868-70 (dated 1870). 7-bay mansard-roofed symmetrical tenement block with idiosyncratic detailing; centre bay 4-storey, attic and basement, flanked by 5-storey and basement octagonal crown-roofed towers, with 3-storey, attic and basement outer bays. Polished ashlar. String courses dividing floors; stone bracketed eaves. Decorative bracketed surrounds to windows. Stone steps and platts over-arching basement area to centre and penultimate bays to left and right; timber panelled doors with round-arched fanlights in round-arched glazed doorpieces with flanking side-lights within recesses with serrated carved decoration in spandrels. Tripartite windows to outer bays at ground; shoulder-arched windows to 1st floor with serrated Moorish carving; round-arched windows to 2nd floor push up bracketed eaves below dormers; hooded dormers to attic. 3-light windows with decorative stone mullions to octagonal tower.

Plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Graded grey slates. Moulded stone ridge. Stone ribs, finials and encircling decoration to slated roofs of towers. Fluted ashlar stalks with scalloped, bracketed cornices; decorative octagonal cans with serrated tops.

BOUNDARY WALL AND RAILINGS: decorative cast-iron railings on low ashlar boundary wall with stone piers marking entrances.

Statement of Interest

Part of a larger ensemble designed by Gowans: with characteristically logical planning, idiosyncratic detailing and exemplary execution. Design based on multiples of 2 ft and angles of 22.5, 45 and 67.5 degrees. 'The Builder' admires Gowans' plan, with 'the water closets all ventilated from the outside,' and 'dark bedrooms at the centre of corner blocks got rid of,' but not the 'geometric details,' considering them to have 'novelty value only,' and 'more suited for execution in wood,' while admitting 'the general effect' to be 'striking and picturesque.' The ground on the opposite side of Castle Terrace, where the multi-storey car park now is, was to be a public boulevard, the rest railed off and laid out as garden ground for residents. The A Group comprises 11-15 Cornwall Street, 25 Castle Terrace and 17 Cornwall Street, 26-28 Castle Terrace, 29 Castle Terrace, 30, 31 and 32 Castle Terrace, 33, 34 and 35 Castle Terrace and 36 Castle Terrace.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17567516

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

• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy