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Summary

Description

Brown & Watt, 1892; later additions and alterations. 2-storey, basement and attic, 3-bay villa. Rough-faced grey granite with finely finished margins to NW elevation; coursed granite rubble to remainder. Contrasting dark grey base course; ground and 1st floor cill course; pilastered mullions to 1st floor extending to form cornice below eaves course; overhanging eaves.

NW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; doorway to centre of ground floor, reached by stone steps flanked by low splayed wall, finely finished geometric squat pilasters flanking fanlight and supporting architrave, 2-leaf panelled timber door with letterbox fanlight, window to centre of 1st floor; bipartite windows to bay to right at ground and 1st floor, slender pilastered mullion to 1st floor; broad canted bay through ground and 1st floors of bay to left, window to each facet, piended roof.

SW ELEVATION: blank; flue advanced to centre from basement to eaves.

SE ELEVATION: centre bay obscured by modern additions; canted window through basement and ground floor of bay to right, bipartite window to 1st floor; regular fenestration to bay to left.

NE ELEVATION: flues advanced to left and right, window to centre of 1st floor.

Predominantly 2-pane and 4-pane timber sash and case windows. Piended slate roof with lead ridges. Corniced wallhead stacks with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not seen 2000.

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan gatepiers to NW (shared with adjacent properties), corniced necks and shallow pyramidal caps; low coped wall between; granite and brick coped rubble walls to remainder.

Statement of Special Interest

From the beginning of the 19th century Aberdeen rapidly expanded westwards from Union Street. 31 Queen's Road is part of the later 19th century development W of Queen's Cross. Queen's Road is on the site of Skene Road, which was originally surrounded by the estate of Rubislaw. In 1877 Rubislaw Estate was bought by the City of Aberdeen Land Association, who re-aligned the road and sold off the estate in smaller plots. Streets became wider and villas with substantial gardens often replaced terraces. Prestigious architects, such as Brown & Watt, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. Of particular note are the pilastered mullions and doorway, which suggest Brown and Watt were influenced by the architecture of Pirie and Clyne, best seen on their buildings in Hamilton Place (see separate listings).

References

Bibliography

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