Fairview, Inchgarth Road, Aberdeen, Peterculter, Aberdeen

Description

A single-storey, classical former Engine House by William Smith, built in 1864 for Aberdeen Water Works and now converted to residential use. In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: the single-storey and attic cottage to the rear.

The former engine house is single storey and symmetrical with a full width pedimented gable on the entrance elevation. It is built of coursed, Aberdeen-bonded granite and has bull-faced quoins and a moulded cornice in the pediment. It has a base course, a band course and a cornice. The entrance elevation to the southeast has a central 2-leaf timber door with a 3-light fanlight and a consoled cornice above. The door is flanked by windows and there are two window openings in each side elevation.

The windows are predominantly a 4-pane glazing pattern in timber sash and case frames. The roof has grey slates, a tall central roof vent and gable chimney stacks.

A rubble boundary wall with triangular coping surrounds the property with pair of bull-faced, capped gatepiers to the east.

Statement of Interest

This 1864 former Engine House is one of the first buildings to be built for Aberdeen Water Works and is one of only a few buildings surviving from this early period of the water works development. Designed by the Aberdeen architect William Smith this small industrial building is distinguished by its good classical decorative features and the entrance (southwest) elevation is largely unaltered. The building is situated on a prominent corner site and it is an unusual and significant building on a street that is characterised by 20th century houses.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: the single-storey and attic cottage to the rear.

Age and Rarity

Fairview is marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey Map, published in 1868 as the Engine House for Aberdeen Water Works. By the 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey Map, published in 1901, the building has increased in size and is marked as both St Devenick Cottage and Engine House (Aberdeen Water Works). It is probable that a cottage was added to the engine house as residential accommodation.

During the first half of the 19th century the population in Aberdeen increased, as was the case in other Scottish cities. In response to the demand for more clean water, engineers looked to provide new and better water supplies. The most ambitious at the time was the Loch Katrine scheme which provided 230 million gallons of water a day for the city of Glasgow and was opened in 1859. Edinburgh also increased its supply during the 19th century with a network of reservoirs in the south of the city, including Glencorse dating from the 1820s and the Moorfoot reservoirs dating from the 1870s.The Aberdeen scheme was smaller than both of these.

Around 1855, James Simpson, a civil engineer from London, was asked to advise on a new water system for Aberdeen. In 1864, work began on the new system which took water to the city from Cairnton, near Banchory and which ended at a reservoir at Mannofield, close to the city centre. Aberdeen Water Works were formally opened in 1866 by Queen Victoria. It included the treatment plant at Invercannie to the west of the city which is described by Paxton in his book 'Civil Engineering Heritage. Scotland Highland and Islands' as having been '….hailed as the jewel in the crown of engineering success.' The system was expanded during the remainder of the 19th century and into the 20th, as the population of the city increased and adaptations had to be made.

Dating from 1864, this former engine house on Inchgarth Road is one of the first buildings to be built for Aberdeen Water Works and in our current state of knowledge, is one of only a few buildings surviving from this early period of the water works development. A later pumping station was built in Cults, to the north of this one in the 1920s. The classical detailing at Fairview is particularly good and it is a distinctive building in the street.

Architectural or Historic Interest

Interior

The interior has not been seen.

Plan form

The rectangular plan form is standard for an engine house at a water works.

Technological excellence or innovation, material or design quality

In terms of design quality, the classical form used for the building is not unique, but the stonework details are of a good quality and demonstrates the thought that has gone into the designing of this small industrial building. The consoled cornice above the door is a particularly prominent feature of the property and together with the pediment and the simple band course, it gives a sense of status and gravitas to the building. This would have added to the perceived importance of the new water system when the building was built. The entrance (southwest) elevation is largely unaltered.

Decorative architectural features for water works buildings are not unusual, as water works companies in other parts of Scotland often used decorative techniques in their buildings. Whilst the classical details on Fairview are typical of decorative techniques used at water works' buildings, they are of a good quality.

William Smith (1817-1891) was an Aberdeen architect who went into partnership with his father, John Smith in 1845 and succeeded him in the post of Superintendent of the Town's Works in 1852. William was responsible for a number of prominent buildings in and around Aberdeen, including churches, schools, private houses and the new castle at Balmoral, (LB51460). A number of his buildings are listed, including Trinity Hall on Union Street in Aberdeen (LB20527).

Setting

Fairview is set slightly back from the public road on a corner site, surrounded by its boundary wall and overlooking the River Dee to the south. Its classical details set it apart from other, later buildings on the road, the majority of which are purpose-built residential dwellings.

Regional variations

The Aberdeen-bonded granite is a distinctive building technique seen in many buildings in the northeast of Scotland.

Close Historical Associations

There are no known associations with a person or event of national importance at present (2016)

Statutory address, category of listing changed from B to C and listed building record revised in 2016. Previously listed as 'Fairview, Inchagarth Road'.

External Links

Historic Environment Scotland Listing
Wikidata IDs Q17772039 Q56621586

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.