Basic Site Details Name: | Ashbrook | Town, district or village: | Wardie | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | B listed | Grid ref: | | Notes: | ASHBROOK MANSION, ON THE QUEENSFERRY ROAD, WARDIE, EDINBURGH —For some time past the suburban extension of the city of Edinburgh has been going on, chiefly to the south and west. But it certainly is not because the Wardie estate is less desirable for situation and salubrity. For this suburb offers the most extensive and beautiful panorama of the city which can be had from any point of the compass. This suburb has a view of the Firth of Forth up and down, and of its inlands and the Fife coast unequalled elsewhere. With all these advantages, the Wardie feus have until quite recently been taken up slowly. The largest of the new mansion houses yet erected in this quarter is a very handsome and spacious one, and is well advanced towards completion. The building is in the simple Italian style, and has been designed by Mr Robert R Raeburn, architect, Edinburgh. With the offices it occupies altogether about five acres of ground. The principal feature in the facade is the tower, which rises to the height of fifty feet, and commands a wide and extensive prospect of the surrounding country. In the lower part there is a handsome doorway, with side lights formed of panelled pilasters, carved trusses, circular-headed architraves, frieze, and cornice. The second story is filled in with an ornamental window having a projecting balcony, with dies and balustrade. Separating the second from the third or last stage is a massive projecting balcony, supported on ornamental trusses, and finished by a handsome iron railing. Above this, on each of the four sides of the tower, are three light windows, subdivided by composite columns, the whole being finished with a very rich cornicing. From this cornice the roof begins, and terminates in an ornamental vane. To the left of the tower, in the lower and upper story, two large oriel windows, each consisting of five semi-circular arched windows, light respectively the drawing-room and principal bedroom. On the right of the tower three circular-headed windows occupy the ground and upper floor. The main building facing the west is relieved by the dining and drawing rooms projecting outwards. The windows on this side are similar to those already described, and are finished with richly carved and massive block cornice. The roof is surmounted with a ridge of ornamental iron cresting. A neat ornamental gate lodge and offices are erected at the entrance leading up to the house. This mansion house has been built by a Liverpool merchant, who has evidently spared no expense in order to render this handsome structure as complete as possible. [Building News 26 February 1869 p191]
| Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | Ashbrook Mansion | | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | House | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | 492, Ferry Road(?) | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1868 | 1869 | Build/construction | | | 1963 | | Alterations and additions | |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes | | Kelso, Alex | of Liverpool | | Salvation Army | 1961 client |
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 | p611 | | RSA | 1868 | | | | 84 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Building News | 26 February 1869 | | | p191 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Courtesy of Hamish Haswell-Smith | Information sent via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent October 2010 | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 28753 | |
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