Description
James Thomson (of Baird & Thomson, Glasgow) architect. Dated
1900. Large asymmetrical, 2-storey, L-plan block, with former
stables and service wing. Scottish Jacobean details. Stugged
red sandstone ashlar with polished dressings. South and east
elevations broadly similar with off-centre 3-storey, single
bay square tower. South elevation: tower with round-headed
door in moulded architrave, ogival-headed window above;
corbelled 2nd floor, decorative bipartite, with burgh arms in crow-stepped dormer head; angle shafts corbelled from 1st
floor support clasping conical-roofed and finialed turrets;
tall, panelled stacks flank pyramidal roof, finished with
iron brattishing. Advanced west bays with large, 1st floor
mullioned and transomed oriel, shaped and crow-stepped gable
with obelisk and lion finials, and 2 ogee-capped axial
ventilators: linked to tower by 2 lower bays; 5 bays to east,
2 under crow-stepped gable. East elevation: variation of the
southern tower, angle finials, decorative lead roof with
finialed bell-cast cap. Outer bays broader and gabled;
bipartites in north bay below shaped gable; 2-storey canted
window in south bay below gable with kneelers; intermediate
bays all have decorative, shaped or pedimented dormer heads.
Corniced stacks, slate roofs.
Interior: entrance hall has decorative tiled walls; panelled
doors have copper finger plates with Art Nouveau details,
leaded glass stair window commemorating coronation of King
Edward inserted 1903; council chambers have leaded windows
portraying "science, engineering, truth, justice, fortitude
and faith". Single storey former stable block has
segmental-arched openings, stepped stacks and piended roof.
Corniced, square, polished red ashlar gatepiers to east and
to west have decorative wrought-iron gates.