Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Mostly later 19th century (1883?) with various asymmetrical additions. Large 2- and 3-storey with basement and attic classically-detailed villa on prominent sloping site; single storey entrance range to roadside dated 1891. Predominantly cream sandstone rubble; part rendered, coursed and whitewashed; ladder-pinned sandstone ashlar engaged octagonal tower to SE; squared and snecked sandstone bow to NE; polished sandstone dressings. Raised base course; architraved cill course; corniced eaves; polished sandstone blocking course to roadside entrance range. Architraved and consoled windows to central block at ground; painted, pilastered windows at 1st floor; long and short polished sandstone surrounds to stop-chamfered openings at rear. Corniced, bowed window with panelled parapet beneath advanced pedimented bay to NE; arcaded sandstone rubble arbour beneath octagonal tower to SE; surrounding cast-iron verandah.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 2-storey, 4-bay core block; advanced single storey, single bay store to outer left linked by low coped wall to 4-bay entrance range off-set to right of centre. ENTRANCE RANGE: 2-leaf timber panelled door in penultimate bay to outer left; surrounding doorpiece comprising architraved surround, stepped hoodmould, dentil detailing beneath frieze, advanced blocking course, "Rockhill Castle, 1891" embossed in surmounting pediment, flanking consoles, anthemion-shaped finial. Tripartite windows in bays to left and right of entrance; single window in recessed bay to outer right. STORE: boarded timber door off-set to left of centre. CORE BLOCK: bipartite window at ground in bay to outer left; 3-light pedimented oriel breaking eaves above; single window at ground in bay to right; single gabled window breaking eaves above; single gabled window breaking eaves off-set to right of centre.

W (REAR) ELEVATION: 2-storey, 3/4-engaged octagonal tower in bay to outer left, balustraded parapet; surrounding decorative cast-iron verandah at ground surmounting various stylised cast-iron columns to basement, intricate spandrels; arcaded arbour recessed below. Later quadripartite conservatory at ground in central bays; single window set in later flat-roofed tower off-set to left of centre; gabled single window at 1st floor off-set to right. Full-height 3-light canted bay facing S in re-entrant angle; 5-light bow advanced to outer right facing W centred beneath pediment above 1st floor openings.S (SIDE) ELEVATION: single storey, single bay entrance range to outer left; single window in bay to right; 2-storey, 2-bay core block at centre comprising 3-light bow recessed at ground to left, 3-light pedimented canted window above with decorative cast-iron finial, single window at ground off-set to right of centre, small single gabled window breaking eaves above; 2-storey engaged octagonal tower to outer right.

Predominantly 2-pane timber glazing; upper panels stained and etched. Grey slate roof (piended at centre); coped wallhead stacks to W and N; corniced stacks at rear; various circular cans.

INTERIOR: extensive timber panelling; arcaded passages; intricate plaster cornices; ceiling roses; timber balustraded stair; decorative leaded and stained glass panels; some original fireplaces; arcaded games room set in single-storey rear bow comprising fluted balustered columns, intricate Corinthian capitals, studded decoration, raised keystones.

TERRACE WALLS: coped random rubble sandstone walls at rear; regularly-disposed square-plan corniced ashlar piers.

BOUNDARY WALLS: coped random rubble sandstone wall to N and W boundaries; corniced ashlar piers with stylised consoled detailing flanking entrance block

Statement of Special Interest

A good, if somewhat altered, example of a late 19th century villa commissioned by a wealthy Clydeside industrialist - Ebenezer Kemp. According to Edwards, Rockhill "exploits the magnificent views to perfection. Terraces, bays and balconies are freely arranged to take advantage of the sea views.........Not all windows are clear glazed, for the villa uses stained glass with great enthusiasm. Each public room has at least one panel of coloured glass." Kemp died in a sailing accident not long after his house was complete.

Rothesay is one of Scotland's premier seaside resorts, developed primarily during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and incorporates an earlier medieval settlement. The town retains a wide range of buildings characteristic of its development as a high status 19th century holiday resort, including a range of fine villas, a Victorian pier and promenade.

The history and development of Rothesay is defined by two major phases. The development of the medieval town, centred on Rothesay Castle, and the later 19th and early 20th century development of the town as a seaside resort. Buildings from this later development, reflect the wealth of the town during its heyday as a tourist destination, and include a range of domestic and commercial architecture of a scale sometimes found in larger burghs. Both the 19th and early 20th century growth of the town, with a particular flourish during the inter-war period, included areas of reclaimed foreshore, particularly along the coast to the east of the town and around the pier and pleasure gardens.

(List description revised as part of Rothesay listing review 2010-11).

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.