Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

MAIN HOSPITAL BUILDING, FORMER DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY ROYAL INFIRMARY, NITHBANK ROAD, DUMFRIESLB26295

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
B
Date Added
06/03/1981
Local Authority
Dumfries And Galloway
Planning Authority
Dumfries And Galloway
Burgh
Dumfries
NGR
NX 97756 75399
Coordinates
297756, 575399

Description

John Starforth of Edinburgh, 1869-73; later alterations and additions. 2- and central 3-storey, long symmetrical 15-bay, pavilion plan, North Italian late medieval style former general hospital building, part of the former Royal Infirmary for Dumfries and Galloway, set back from roadside, above stone terrace (see separate listing). Built largely of bull-faced red ashlar with polished dressings and stringcourses dividing floors. Mainly round-arched plate tracery and other openings with shouldered heads. The later extensions (dating primarily to post-1914) attached mainly to the rear are not considered of special interest (2014).

Principal elevation to west with tall 3-storey, 3-bay gabled and balustraded central block immediately flanked by arcaded secondary entrances (now blocked). 2-storey, 6-bay flanking wings with pyramidal-roofed full-height advanced square pavilions at outer angles. Tall main doorway in gabled central bay with sidelights and balcony over, large 1st floor window with looped tracery is flanked with carved figures by John Currie of Dumfries, sculptor (see Notes).

Piended roof with symmetrical stacks enclosed by pierced parapet flanking wings, each originally with entrance and open gallery over (all these are now glazed) in tripartite linking bays. Decorative cast iron roof cresting throughout. Predominantly small-paned glazing in timber sash and case; slate roofs.

The interior was seen in 2014. Pavilion layout is largely intact with extensive alteration to ward interiors. Main stair retains its cast iron balusters. A number of panelled doors remain.

Statement of Special Interest

The main building of the former Royal Infirmary at Nithbank dates to 1869-73 and occupies a central position in this former hospital site and is a prominent local landmark. It is a good example of a hospital of its date and notable for it pavilion plan layout in hospital design in Scotland. The former hospital has a considerable amount of high quality architectural detailing to its entrance elevation and external decoration in general and is an important example of John Starforth's work.

The pavilion plan form, or Nightingale wards, were widely adopted from the 1860s and are notable for their large interlinked rooms, corridors and service pavilions. The design of NothbankHospital is typical of the mid 19th century move towards more ornate and architectural compostionsfor this building type.

The building also includes finely carved figures flanking the main entrance, by local stone mason John Currie, they are of Aesculapius, the Greek and Roman god of the medical art, and Hygeia, goddess of health, and daughter of Aesculapius.

The architect, John Starforth, was born near Durham around 1822. He moved to Edinburgh and was first apprenticed to Thomas Hamilton before moving to Burn and Bryce's practice before 1844 to work as an assistant. Starforth's practice portfolio consisted mainly of churches, hospitals, poorhouses and country house work in the north and west of Scotland. The style of his buildings reflects his years in Bryce's office. Starforth died in 1898.

Other hospital buildings at this site are listed separately.

Statutory address previously known as 'Nith Bank, Nith Bank Hospital, Terrace, North Lodge and Detached Blocks to North East'. Listed building record and statutory address updated (2014).

References

Bibliography

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/159148/

Dictionary of Scottish Architects http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200348 [accessed March 2013]

Dickie, W. Dumfries, n.d. (3rd ed) pp.75-6.

Gifford, J. (1996) The Buildings of Scotland: Dumfries and Galloway. London: Yale University Press. p.265.

Groome, Francis H (1896) Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, n.d. (2nd ed) Vol II, p.393.

Historic Scotland (2010) Building Up Our Health: the Architecture of Scotland's Historic Hospitals. Edinburgh: Historic Scotland. p18.

Irving, Gordon (1875) Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary ' the first two hundred years Dumfries.

MacDowall, William (1885) Guide to Dumfries (3rd ed), pp.46-7.

Ordnance Survey (1910) Dumfries Sheet. 25 miles to the inch. 2nd Ed. London: Ordnance Survey.

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.

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