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Summary

Description

John M Crawford, 1843; rebuilt 1892-4. Symmetrical 4-storey with basement, 14-bay classically-detailed hotel approached on central axis to front; 5-storey, 2-bay balustraded tower at centre; flanking 3-storey, 2-bay advanced wings above arcaded loggia; later whitewashed harl 2-storey with attic harled addition to outer left. Squared and snecked tooled yellow sandstone; polished sandstone dressings. Raised base course; architraved string and cill courses at centre; corniced eaves (consoled in slightly advanced bays to left and right of centre). Raised polished margins; sandstone mullions to bipartites; projecting cills; pedimented, architraved windows in 2 central bays at 5th floor; corbelled cills. Advanced 9-bay arcaded yellow ashlar loggia centred at front comprising pilastered quoins; heavy channelling in 2 outer bays; architraved surrounds to 5 central openings; raised keystones; part-fluted Ionic pilasters set between; corniced eaves; balustraded parapet; equally disposed tapering finials. 4-bay cast-iron segmental-arched verandahs flanking loggia comprising cast-iron balustrades; decorative columns; stencil detailing set in spandrels; equally disposed ball-shaped finials above corniced eaves. Segmental-arched yellow ashlar porte-cochere to SW comprising panelled pilasters; architraved surround; raised keystone; corniced eaves; ball finials set at parapet corners. Single storey, 9-bay flat-roofed yellow ashlar addition to side comprising architraved surrounds to openings; projecting cills; corniced eaves. Pair of later 19th century, single storey with basement and attic, 3 bay gabled cottages to E. Whitewashed harl to SE and NW; whitewashed brick to W; render to E. Overhanging timber eaves; timber bracketed gables; slight segmental-arched openings; harled mullions to bipartites; projecting stop-chamfered cills.

NW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: stair to replacement 2-leaf timber door centred at ground; opaque-glass fanlight; flanking single windows; bipartite windows at ground in remaining bays to left and right (blind in penultimate bay to outer left). Regularly fenestrated in all bays at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors (predominantly bipartite windows in bays to outer left and right, single windows at centre); bipartite windows at 1st and 2nd floors in advanced wings flanking centre. Harled addition adjoined to outer left.

SW (SIDE) ELEVATION: 4-bay pedimented block to outer left; 8-bay addition to right. Segmental-arched porte-cochere at ground in penultimate bay to outer left; stairs to 2-leaf timber panelled door set within; plate-glass fanlight; moulded door-surround; frieze dated "1892"; cornice; flanking cast-iron verandah as above (single bay to right, 4-bay to left). 2 bipartite windows at ground in remaining bays to left; single storey, 9-bay projection in remaining bays to right; single windows in all bays. Predominantly single windows in all bays at 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors (bipartites at 1st floor in remaining bays to right of entrance; bipartites at all floors off-set to left of centre).

Predominantly 2-pane timber sash and case windows; 6-pane upper, plate-glass lower timber casements set in advanced wings to front. Grey slate roof; replacement rainwater goods. Corniced ashlar ridge and wallhead stacks; cans missing.

INTERIOR: adapted for modern hotel use; some plaster cornice work; pilasters flanking main stair; Ionic columns.

TERRACE WALL: low coped wall to front; cast-iron balustrades flanking main stair; panelled square-plan piers regularly disposed; ball-shaped finials.

BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATEPIERS: coped random rubble wall to Mount Stuart Road; stop-chamfered square-plan panelled ashlar piers flanking entrance to Glenburn Road; corniced circular caps; surmounting modern lamps.

COTTAGES, SE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: boarded timber door centred at ground beneath gable in penultimate bay to outer left; bipartite fanlight; overhanging bracketed canopy; circular window centred in apex above; bipartite windows at ground flanking entrance. Boarded timber door at ground in penultimate bay to outer right (off-set to left of gable centre); bipartite fanlight; small single window in bay to left; bipartite window in bay to outer right; round-arched attic window centred in apex. NW (REAR) ELEVATION: large boarded timber opening centred at ground; slight segmental-arched opening in bay to right; single doorway in bay to left; single windows at ground in bays to outer left and right; single windows in 3 bays at 1st floor. 6- and 8-pane timber sash and case windows. Graded grey slate piends; replacement rainwater goods. Coped ridge and wallhead stacks; various cans.

Statement of Special Interest

Originally the Glenburn Hydropathic, this was and indeed, still is, Rothesay's most prominent hotel. According to Edwards, its "...symmetrical grandeur looks more akin to a stately home than a provincial hotel." Based in Dumbarton, Crawford was one of the first of many Glasgow architects who combined building design with that of ship saloons (he also designed interiors for the Clydeside shipbuilders, William Denny & Brothers). With its classical detailing, intricate iron work and overall symmetry, the Glenburn represented the epitome of a grand seaside hotel. Built for Glasgow's wealthy, it originally housed smoking rooms, marble floors, Turkish baths and Persian carpets. Despite considerable internal alterations, the loss of these 'grand' features and later extensions, much of the building's original grandeur remains - greatly helped by the steep, axially-aligned stair leading from Mount Stuart Road. The unusually-detailed cottages (possibly a former coach-house) have recently been refurbished. Glenfaulds Cottage, also within the hotel grounds, is listed separately.

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

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