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

CAUSEYSIDE STREET RUSSELL INSTITUTELB38944

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
A
Date Added
27/03/1985
Local Authority
Renfrewshire
Planning Authority
Renfrewshire
Burgh
Paisley
NGR
NS 48323 63798
Coordinates
248323, 663798

Description

J Steel Maitland, architect. Archibald Dawson, sculptor 1926-7.

3-storey monumental public building block with 7 bays, to

Causeyside Street, 6 to New Street, 1 corner bay. Polished

granite plinth with Blaxter sandstone ashlar cladding to reinforced concrete

frame. Bronze window panels. Angle bay, approached by steps

with 2 octagonal columns inset in architrave. 2 enamelled

coats of arms. Over columns Bronze nameplate between bronze

group of Mother and children above.

Windows to two upper floors and attic lunette linked

vertically by bronze panels and flanked by corniced pilasters

supporting architraved, arch with keystone supporting gilded

bronze angel carrying 2 babies. Carved to left and right is

"A DEO SALUS". Cornice with 2 bronze finials. Long

elevations: "pylons" to outer bays,: 3 with slit windows each

floor: 4th to right of Causeyside Street elevation has door

at ground and oriel over rising to attic, supported by stone

angel. Ashlar piers between inner bays at ground each support

bronze figure of infant. Above piers rise through 2 upper

floors, to carved brackets supporting cornices, and parapet.

Ground floor cross windows, 1st and 2nd floors linked

vertically with bronze bands.

Slate roof with later dormers to Causeyside Street.

Return elevation to west has 2 pylons with 5 narrow windows

each floor between. Rear elevations show exposed concrete.

INTERIOR: 2-leaf glazed lobby doors to double-height,

marble-clad entrance hall with compartmented ceiling.

Gallery corridor at 1st floor with star-cut marble balustrade

between columns that rise from ground-floor

pilasters. White marble staircase rising

through segmental arch opposite entrance; marble-architraved

entrances to ground floor corridors flanking stair to each side;

semicircular cantilevered balcony projecting above staircase

supported on large scrolled brown marble bracket that springs

from keystone of staircase arch; cast-bronze plaque to centre

of balcony inscribed 'THIS BUILDING IS GIFTED TO THE

CITIZENS OF PAISLEY BY MISS AGNES RUSSELL IN

MEMORY OF HER TWO BROTHERS ROBERT & THOMAS

RUSSELL. Staircase divides into 2 from second flight with

elaborate Art-Deco, gold-painted metal balustrade with polished

timber handrail; polished timber benches (many curved to

fit against curved walls) with scrolled legs to stair landings

and other circulation areas. Many other original fixtures remain.

Statement of Special Interest

A monumental public building situated prominently in Paisley town centre on the corner of Causeyside Street and New Street. The Russell Institute was designed by one of Paisley's leading architects and is one of the best examples of his work. No expense was spared in the construction of the building and this is evident from the use of bronze of and stone sculpture on the exterior of the building and the high quality of the interior fixtures.

The Russell Institute was opened by HRH Princess Mary on 19th March 1927. It was donated to Paisley Burgh by Miss Russell (who died before it was completed) as a memorial to her two brothers, Robert and Thomas Russell. It was built as a child welfare clinic and is still used for roughly that purpose. Miss Russell placed no financial restriction on the construction expenses, and the final cost of the building was not revealed.

The architectural practice Abercrombie and Maitland was chosen to design the building. This practice had been established by T G Abercrombie in 1886 and by the early 20th century was the leading architectural practice in Paisley. In about 1920 Abercrombie employed J S Maitland as his assistant, and took him into partnership 3 years later. Maitland was given responsibility for designing the Russell Institute from the start, and continued the practice on his own following Abercrombie's death in 1926.

The building originally had bronze or wrought-iron balconies to the 1st floor windows; these were removed in about 1960.

Upgraded from category B to A 3 October 2005.

References

Bibliography

Souvenir Brochure of opening. Historical information from www.paisley.org.uk

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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Printed: 28/03/2024 19:15