Description

John Duncan, dated 1877. Asymmetrical 2-storey, 5-bay Alexander Thomson style double villa forming part of symmetrical terrace. Grouped 1-3-1 with single bays recessed to outer left and right; full-height gabled bay off-set to left of centre; engaged tower off-set to right. Yellow sandstone ashlar; polished ashlar dressings. Raised base course; timber bracketed eaves to ground floor canted window; stepped eaves course beneath French-pavilion roof; overhanging timber eaves. Square-headed windows; chamfered reveals; sandstone mullions; chamfered cills. Random rubble sandstone at sides and rear.

N (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 2-leaf timber panelled doors recessed at ground in bays to outer left and right; decorative fretwork to gabled canopies above; single windows aligned at 1st floor. Cast-iron brattishing surmounting 3-light canted window at ground off-set to left of centre; bipartite window at 1st floor beneath apex. Single windows at both floors off-set to right of centre (gabled at 1st floor); full-height engaged octagonal tower in penultimate bay to outer right comprising 3-light windows at both floors; decorative cast-iron bracketed balcony.

Replacement glazing to No 47; 2-pane timber sash and case glazing to No 48. Graded grey slate roof; fish-scale detailing to tower; replacement rainwater goods. Corniced ridge and apex stacks; various decorative cans.

INTERIORS: not seen 1996.

BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATEPIERS: coped random rubble wall to Mount Stuart Road; oval datestone set in segmental-arched surround at centre inscribed "Royal Terrace 1877", surmounting anthemion, flanking consoles. Square-plan gatepiers comprising raised base course, consoled broken pediments to each facet, armorial panels centred below, surmounting ball-finials; various cast-iron pedestrian entry gates.

Statement of Interest

B Group with Nos 45 & 46, 49 & 50, 51 & 52, 53 & 54 Mount Stuart Road, Royal Terrace (see separate list entries). One of 5 double villas designed to form a symmetrical terrace to be viewed as a complete entity (paired with Nos 51 & 52). This emphasis on sea-front symmetry bears strong affinity with other developments along Mount Stuart Road - the earlier Nos 19-27, Wimbleton, Nos 33-44, Elysium Terrace, 1875 and Nos 55-60, Albany Terrace, 1882 (see separate list entries). Royal Terrace has retained significant architectural interest despite the loss of some original glazing. Note the overall symmetry, decorative cans, pilaster reveals, cast-iron brattishing and unusual gatepiers. Lawson cites John Duncan, then Provost, as having been behind this development (note the inscription Nos 49 & 50) - he was also responsible for Nos 23-34 Crichton Road, Brighton Terrace, 1878 and Edgehill and Hillpark, Eastlands Road (see separate list entries).

Rothesay is one of Scotland's premier seaside resorts, developed primarily during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and incorporates an earlier medieval settlement. The town retains a wide range of buildings characteristic of its development as a high status 19th century holiday resort, including a range of fine villas, a Victorian pier and promenade.

The history and development of Rothesay is defined by two major phases. The development of the medieval town, centred on Rothesay Castle, and the later 19th and early 20th century development of the town as a seaside resort. Buildings from this later development, reflect the wealth of the town during its heyday as a tourist destination, and include a range of domestic and commercial architecture of a scale sometimes found in larger burghs. Both the 19th and early 20th century growth of the town, with a particular flourish during the inter-war period, included areas of reclaimed foreshore, particularly along the coast to the east of the town and around the pier and pleasure gardens.

(List description revised as part of Rothesay listing review 2010-11).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17775755

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.

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