Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Robert Smith, 1886. Single storey, 3 bay, Tudor gothic former public library with 20th century additions to rear. Tooled squared and snecked sandstone with droved dressings; long and short quoins; chamfered reveals; hoodmoulds; overhanging eaves; plain bargeboards to gables.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; gabled porch slightly advanced to centre bay with timber panelled door and letterbox fanlight; window to left return; bipartite window in advanced gabled bay to right; window in bay to left.

S ELEVATION: asymmetrical; snecked sandstone rubble; 7 bay; blank bay to outer left; small window in penultimate bay to left, and window 3rd bay from left, both set in gable; 4th and 5th bays, 1891, advanced in central gable of with window in each; boarded timber door with 2 pane fanlight to left return; brick lean to addition with boarded timber door in penultimate bay to right; brick lean to addition with corrugated iron roof set at base of gable to outer right.

E ELEVATION: asymmetrical; snecked sandstone rubble; 3 bay; 20th century lean to addition between centre and right bays; regular fenestration to centre and left bays; brick lean to to outer left; bipartite window with relieving arch in gable to right.

N ELEVATION: asymmetrical; 5 bay; windows to centre and outer left bay breaking eaves with cat slide roofs; shouldered chimney in penultimate bay to left with carved quatrefoil panel reading "RD 1886" (Robert Dundas); gabled timber door with 2 pane fanlight in penultimate bay to right; tripartite window in bay to outer right with relieving arch; carved tablet bearing the lion rampant (for Dundas) set in gablehead.

Predominantly 2 pane and 4 pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roof with lead ridge; cast iron rainwater goods; coped tooled shouldered wallhead stacks.

INTERIOR: not seen 1997.

Statement of Special Interest

Known as the Newbyres Reading Room, the hall was built by Robert Dundas as a public library (for books originally donated by Dr Milne of the gunpowder mill). In addition it was used by Gorebridge Working Men's Club for "social intercourse, instruction and rational amusement" (Gorebridge Yesterdays p5). The building was described has

"neat and handsome [in] appearance" with the grounds being ". . . tastefully laid out in terraces and sown with grass" (Gorebridge Yesterdays p5). It was subsequently used as a school, doctors surgery, and is now a private house.

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.