Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Matthews and Mackenzie, 1884. 2-storey and attic, 4-bay double villa. Tooled coursed grey granite, finely finished to margins at SE elevation; Aberdeen bond rubble to remainder. Rough-faced granite base course; architraved openings to principal elevation; dividing string course forming 1st floor cill course; gableted dormers with pierced bargeboards.

SE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: near-symmetrical; 4-bay comprising 2 2-bay mirrored semi-detached villas; doorways to centre 2 bays at ground floor, 2-leaf panelled timber door to each, architraved fanlight flanked by scrolls above, regular fenestration to 1st floor, 2 dormers to attic floor. Rectangular-plan tripartite windows in rough-faced granite through ground and 1st floors of bays to outer left and right, Dutch gables breaking eaves, with ogee mouldings at steps and tiered string courses flanking central round-arched window with keystone detail, diminutive pediments surmounting, roundel to apex of each. Curved outer angles to left and right, that to right (40 Queen's Road) forming tower, window to centre of ground, 1st and attic floors, conical turret roof with fishscale slate and iron finial to apex.

NE ELEVATION: gabled; 2 windows to right of 1st floor, single round-arched window centred in gablehead; 2-storey wing to outer right.

NW ELEVATION: obscured by pair of gabled bays, irregular fenestration; single storey gabled bay advanced to centre at ground floor.

SW ELEVATION: gabled; pair of windows to left of 1st floor, round-arched window centred in gablehead.

Predominantly 2-pane timber sash and case windows; replacement timber windows with top hoppers to ground floor of No 40. Grey slate roof with lead ridge. Corniced gablehead stacks and stack breaking pitch with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: remodelled; 42 Queen's Road retains original arcaded timber screen and tapered Ionic columns to entrance porch and hall, and staircase with turned timber balusters.

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan granite ashlar gatepiers to SE, surmounted by pyramidal caps, gatepier to W shared with adjacent property; low coped granite walls flanking; 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. 40 and 42 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 Matthews and Mackenzie, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. 40 and 42 Queen's Road was built for Mr F W Steele. Of particular note are the elaborate window bays to the SE elevation, decorative doorways and fine pierced bargeboards to the attic dormers.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.