Description

Robert Duncan, circa 1895, with later billiard room addition by P McGregor Chalmers, circa 1913. 2-storey and attic 3-bay classically-detailed villa. Coursed ashlar to principal elevation, squared and snecked tooled sandstone to other elevations. Base course, string course and cill courses, Doric columned and pedimented portico, canted bays, raised quoins, dentiled eaves, cast-iron brattishing and finials, piend and platform roof.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: central advanced portico flanked by canted bay windows, tripartite and advanced at ground, 4-light to 1st floor. Above, section of balustrade between canted bays, single light window and oculus dormer in attic. To right, later single storey 1-bay billiard room addition, with 5-light canted bay.

S ELEVATION: large advanced 2-storey and basement section with irregular fenestration, off-centre pitched roof canted attic dormer above. To right, steps to doorway in single bay section in re-entrant angle. To left, billiard room addition with steps leading to doorway with stained glass to upper panel of door, fanlights and side lights.

Grey slate. Predominantly timber sash and case plate glass windows with horns. Tall wallhead stacks to W, E and S.

INTERIOR: not seen (2004).

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: to N, low coped tooled sandstone wall. To left, pair of square gatepiers with canted finials. To right, more elaborate pair of square gatepiers with ball finials.

Statement of Interest

A good, well-detailed example of a Glasgow merchant's villa with some interesting stained glass.

Built for Walker & Dick (Wrights and Builders) of Paisley Road West. Originally No 5 Springkell Drive, the first owner was William R Gray, ship owner and chandler, of MacBeth & Gray. Purchased in 1913 by Haden R Cooper, engineer, who added the billiard room extension. It was occupied by descendents of Cooper until 1993. Dean of Guild plans for the original house show that a billiard room was planned for the attic floor, but it was presumably not enough for Cooper's requirements. The laundry, washouse and coal cellars were contained in the basement.

The Independent on Sunday article mentions the large stained glass work in the billiard room and notes the subject as Leda and the Swan and the artist as possibly E A Davidson. It may have been an exhibition piece executed by the glassmakers, James Cooper & Sons. Further stained glass in the house is also described.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17813561

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

• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)