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Summary

Description

Attributed to James Barbour, circa 1894-7, altered and extended circa 1912. Former infectious diseases hospital block, converted to nurses' home. 3-storey, 8-bay, rectangular plan former nurses' home with Scots and Italian Renaissance detailing. Long, asymmetrical north elevation to Craigs Road with wide gable to east, and narrow pyramidal-roofed pavilion to west. Built predominantly of bull-faced red ashlar. Stringcourse dividing ground and first floors to west, and dividing first and second floors to the east. Multi-paned glazing in timber sash and case throughout. Some segmental openings; tall bipartite windows in arched panels to east pavilion. Tall corniced stacks to centre and east elevation.

The interior was seen in 2014. Layout is largely intact with extensive alterations throughout. Main stair retains its metal railings. Some panelled doors remain.

Statement of Special Interest

The former nurses home of the former Dumfries Royal Infirmary at Nithbank dates to 1894-7 and was constructed as the infectious diseases block for the hospital before being converted to nurses accommodation by 1911. It is a large imposing building with good stone detailing in the early Renaissance style set within the grounds of the former Royal Infirmary (see separate listing). The nurses home is an important component of the remaining buildings of the former Royal Infirmary complex and follows the quality and style of the other 19th century buildings on the site. The building, of local red sandstone and in a plain early Renaissance style, has good decorative architectural detailing to its external elevations and compliments the adjacent main hospital building.

The pavilion-plan form, or Nightingale Wards, as seen in the main block of the former Dumfries Royal Infirmary, were widely adopted from the 1860s and are notable for their interlinked wards, corridors and service pavilions. Dumfries was one of the first in Scotland to adopt the pavilion plan wards. By the later part of the 19th century various ancillary buildings were introduced to the site catering for different services and accommodation. Some extensions were added to the main block, and other detached buildings erected or reused to shift functions and to accommodate more beds. For example, the nurses' accommodation was relocated from the main block to an adjacent detached former 'infectious diseases' block when this became redundant. Nurses' accommodation associated with large hospital sites which are near their original form are increasingly rare survivals. This example at Nithbank is largely intact and is an important component of the wider hospital complex.

James Barbour was born in 1834 and was articled to the practice of Walter Newall in around 1848. He set up his own practice in Dumfries in 1860, thought by some historians to have succeeded Newall's practice, who retired in that same year. Barbour remained active in the practice until his death in 1912, with commissions principally for churches in the Dumfries and Galloway region.

Statutory address previously known as 'Nith Bank, Nith Bank Hospital, Terrace, North Lodge and Detached Blocks to North East'. Category changed from B to C, listed building record and statutory address updated (2014).

References

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