Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

John Murray Robertson, dated 1894, extended 1913. Jacobean style library and public swimming baths with curvilinear gables and pediments and cylindrical corner tower. 2-storey coursed red ashlar with rusticated grey rubble base. Polished red sandstone dressings.

LIBRARY BLOCK (TO W): cylindrical corner entrance and tower with ogee-capped roof. Pedimented doorpiece (now a window) with wrought-iron lamp bracket over. Modern door to left in twin curvilinear-gabled obtuse-angled section with strapworked grid and oculi. Ball finial to left gable, right finial a stack. Some alterations to fenestration.

S (HIGH STREET) ELEVATION: 2 curvilinear gables to right of stair turret. 3 ground floor cross windows to left with 2 1st floor cross windows and shield. Bay to right tall 3-light mullioned and transomed window, relieving arches with strapworked tympanum. 3-bays fronting bays to right, ground floor blind with dated tie-plates. 3 curvilinear gabletted dormers with ball finials.

SE (END) ELEVATION: ground floor door and 3 small blind windows. Curvilinear gable with strapworked grid, 6-light mullioned window and oculus.

Slate roofs with modern skylights. Some windows plate glass; other small-paned glazing pattern.

INTERIOR: pilastered library room with top-lit barrel-vaulted ceiling. Swimming pool hall refurbished (1979/89 and 94) retaining wrought-iron roof trusses with cast-iron struts; stair to SE end to raised gallery with cast-iron rail, returning to N, E and W walls. Marble memorial drinking fountain dated 1894 reset by poolside; dediction reads "Erected in Memory of the Late Thomas Hunter Cox of Maulesden and Strathmartine, The Donor of this Institution".

Statement of Special Interest

A well-detailed, multi-purpose public building in the Jacobean Rennaissance style with curvilinear scrolled and finialled gables and pediments adding significantly to its architectural and streetscape value. It is Lochee's only red sandstone building.

The building was a gift to the community by the Cox brothers, commemorated by the inscribed drinking fountain now reset by the poolside.

The swimming pool hall originally featured a diving board rising to the height of the spectators gallery and timber changing cubicles surrounding the poolside. It otherwise largely retains its original form and volume. The wash-house (steamie) component was formerly adjacent to the pool hall and was converted to a gymnasium and fitness suite in 1979.

John Murray Robertson was a prolific and versatile Perthshire and Dundee architect, whose early work was influenced by Alexander Thomson, with an interest in Japanese and American architecture. Later settling on the use of a free Jacobean style particulary for his public building commissions such as Lochee Library and Baths.

Swimming clubs and bath houses were established in Scotland from the 1850s following the enactment of the 1846 Act to Encourage the Establishment of Public Baths and Wash-houses, which was established to improve general public health with access for all classes of citizen. With the rapid expansion of urban population, often living and working in unsanitary conditions, bath and wash houses were seen as essential public services. The Act, which affected the entirety of Britain, encouraged local authorities to open up these facilities in areas of dense population. While men and women did not mix at these facilities, women would have had their own separate entrance, however they would have to attend at certain times when the male pools were not in use. It would not be until the 1870s when separate ladies pools were being considered in bath and wash house design. These bath and wash houses soon started to cater for recreational swimming rather than washing and became a hugely popular social past time during the 20th century.

List description updated as part of the sporting buildings thematic study (2012-13).

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.