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Summary

Description

Circa 1910. Probably by John Alexander Carfrae. 3-storey symmetrical T-plan Renaissance building. Squared and snecked red sandstone rubble; red sandstone ashlar dressings. Advanced base course; mullions and transoms to large bipartite windows; transoms to large single windows; mullions to small bipartite windows; long and short surrounds to windows; strip quoins; cornice; skews and skewputts.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, CENTRAL SECTION: 9-bay. Symmetrical with advanced pilasters terminating in bracketed cornices above 1st floor; cornices support pedestals (decorated with relief lozenge) surmounted by attached columns to 2nd floor; obelisk finials. Large single windows flanking large bipartites to ground and 1st floors of central section; cornice to 1st floor; small single windows flanking small bipartite to 2nd floor. Large single windows flanking large bipartites to all floors of gabled sections flanking central 3-bay section; carved emblems of learning between 1st and 2nd floor bipartites; lozenge in relief to gables.

N ELEVATION, RECESSED SECTIONS: 6-bay; 3-bay gabled outer sections advanced. Large single windows flank large bipartites to both floors of outer sections; semicircular hoodmould to central window of 2nd floor. 2-leaf timber door to segmental-arched doorway to ground of advanced 5-stage tower to innermost bay; carved panel surmounting doorway; small leaded bipartite window above; small bipartite windows to next 2 stages above; cornice to trefoil-headed window set in recessed panel at upper stage; stone balustrade to roof. Small bipartites to 2 lower stages of bay adjacent to stair towers; large bipartite to ground of remaining bay; small bipartites to uppermost floor of both bays.

NW AND NE ELEVATIONS: 7-bay. 2-bay gabled sections to outer left and right respectively; 2 single windows to all floors. Large bipartites to ground and 1st floors of next 4 bays; small bipartites to 2nd floor of alternate bays; large bipartites breaking cornice in hoodmoulded semicircular pediments with ball finials to 2nd floor of alternate bays. Small bipartites to all 5 stages of bay at right angles to stair tower.

SW AND SE ELEVATIONS: 4-bay. 3 bay sections gabled to outer right and left respectively. Large single windows flank large bipartite windows to both floors of gabled bays. Single windows to both floors of remaining bay.

S ELEVATION: 17-bay, grouped 6-5-6. Pattern of alternative 2 and 3 single windows to 6 bay section to left; entrance porch and 2-leaf timber door and fanlight at ground to bay at right. Central gabled bay comprises tripartites at ground and 1st floor ; bipartites at 2nd floor. Bipartites at all floors in flanking bays. Single windows at ground and 1st floor in flanking canted bays; small bipartite at 2nd floor. Entrance porch to left in 6 bays to right; 2-leaf timber door; fanlight; two single windows aligned above. Single window at ground in bay to right. 3 single windows to next 3 bays. Central tripartite window to gabled bay to outer right; single window at ground.

Assortment of small-paned timber-framed windows: large bipartites 36-pane; single windows 12-pane sash and case; small bipartites 4-pane sash and case. Grey slate piended roof. Coped and corniced stacks. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: boarded dados and cupboard fittings; timber gallery seating; timber and glass concertina doors to central interior space; original ventilation fitting remains in attic.

BOUNDARY WALLS, GATES, GATEPIERS AND RAILINGS: coped, squared and snecked rubble boundary walls to Upper Gilmore Place with spiked iron railings. 2 sets of banded and corniced red sandstone gatepiers with ornamental wrought-iron gates. Various additional teaching blocks to all elevations.

Statement of Special Interest

James Gillespie's Schools, were formed in terms of a bequest by James Gillespie of Spylaw, a tobacconist and snuff-merchant in the High Street, who left the greater part of his property for the endowment of charitable schools, and the maintenance of old men and women.

References

Bibliography

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