Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Gillespie & Scott, 1908. Large asymmetrical 2-storey and attic Arts and Crafts villa discreetly sited along Hepburn Gardens with distinctive circular-plan 3-stage tower, turret with candlesnuffer roof and crowstepped gables. Harl with stone cills.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: SE (garden) elevation; near central 3-stage tower with pedimented moulded doorpiece with decoratively part-glazed timber door. Tower terminates with corbel course and parapet. 2-stage turret adjoins tower, timber door gives access to tower parapet. To left recessed single bay with 1st floor window breaking eaves. To right symmetrical 2-bay projecting crowstepped gabled wing with apex stack.

NW (Hepburn Gardens) elevation; comprises central 3-light stair window with stone mullions and transoms; small box dormer above. To right, crowstepped gabled bay with flat roofed buttressed entrance porch with 9-panel timber door. To left, projecting single storey gabled bay.

Predominantly plate glass timber sash and case windows with horns. Graded grey slates. Variety of tall ridge and gable stacks with cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: fine interior with many original features including timber panelling and fireplaces to some ground floor rooms. Fine moulded cornices to principal rooms. 3-light multi-pane fine stained glass curved window flanked by Doric columns separating hall from vestibule. Central hall with Doric columns and pilasters. Dogleg staircase to 1st floor. Boarded timber stairwell to turret.

Statement of Special Interest

Century House is a fine example of an Arts and Crafts villa. Designed by respected local architects Gillespie & Scott, Century House is a distinctive composition with a circular 3-stage tower and adjoining candlesnuffer roofed turret. It remains little altered externally and has a number of fine internal features. Century House is unusual along the Hepburn Gardens as it is set back a distance from the road, but like many it has its principal rooms facing towards the picturesque Lade Braes.

The use of tower, turret and crowstepped gables are reminiscent of Scots Renaissance architecture and are a distinctive interpretation of the Arts and Crafts style. Here, Gillespie & Scott have used historical Scottish references to add authenticity to their design rather than the more usual multi-gabled overhanging eaves aesthetic.

Century House was built for Mr J L MacPherson as inscribed on the plans dated 1908 from the archive of Gillespie and Scott (University of St Andrews Library). Initially called Newmill, this subsequently changed to Century House, 100 Hepburn Gardens. A later villa built on the grounds now has the name Newmill.

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.