Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Site Details Name: | Villas, Mortonhall Road | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | A Listed | Grid ref: | | Notes: | No 33 was built for Kinross himself.
The four houses at Mortonhall Road (one on the corner 14 Oswald Road), designed en suite were built for Andrew Thomson, of Bannockburn. There were originally only intended to be three (see Dean of Guild, 13/5/1897) leaving one of the four plots blank, but the architect chose to squeeze in No 33, the fourth house named Seven gables, for himself once the money proved to be forthcoming (Dean of Guild 12/8/1897). The villas were avant-garde in their restraint, the degree of comfort and convenience provided throughout and in the modern interpretation of the 17th century Scottish style. No 33 was named Steven Gables and was the most lavishly appointed of the group and cost more than £4,268 to build. The designs were exhibited at the RSA and their influence was wide. All are of fire-proof construction and have terraced gardens falling steeply to the suburban railway cutting. | Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes |  | Villa | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes |  | 31-35, Mortonhall Road | Yes | |  | 14, Oswald Road | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes |  | 1898(?) | | | |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes |  | Bailey Scott Murphy | Architect | A | 1898 | | As assistant to John Kniross |  | Harold Ogle Tarbolton | Architect | A | 1898 | | HS suggests he may have designed the plasterwork in no 33 |  | John Kinross | Architect | A | 1898 | | |  | Kinross & Tarbolton | Architectural practice | A | 1898 | | |
ClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes |  | Barton, john Fraser of William Barton & sons, plumbers | Client for no 14 Oswald Road |  | Kinross, John | Built no 33 for himself |  | Thomson, Andrew | Of Herd's Brae, Bannockburn - client for other villas |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M | 1984 | Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) | | Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd | p599 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes |  | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Dean of Guild | | 13/5/1897, 12/8/1897, 31/3/1898, 2/6/1898. Further plans in private hands. |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 30577 | No 31 |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 30578 | No 33 |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 30579 | No 35 |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 30589 | No 14 Oswald Road |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | Bailey Scott Murphy: L v19 no 1476 |
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