11A-19 Bon-Accord Street, Aberdeen

The building at 11A-19 Bon-Accord Street, Aberdeen, comprises a complex of structures dating from 1889, with subsequent additions and alterations in 1890, 1895, and 1908. Originally stables and offices for Campbells Ltd, Post Horse Masters, the complex occupies a triangular corner site with an inner courtyard.

The main block is an L-shaped design, encompassing 17 bays along Langstane Place and 3 return bays into Gordon Street, built in 1889. This was extended circa the 1890s with a further 10 bays along Gordon Street, providing additional stabling. The exterior is constructed from squared granite rubble with stugged ashlar dressings, a polished ashlar continuous cill course projecting at the ground and first floors, and individual cills at the second floor. An eaves course runs along the top of the building. The window arrangement is regular, with short, segmental-arched ground floor openings and larger 20-pane windows at the first and second floors, fitted with metal astragals and top hoppers, except for the first three bays into Gordon Street (second storey) where small square windows are located close to the eaves, and for the second storey at Langstane Place, which features two small square openings flanked by larger windows. Curved glazing is present at the bowed angle where Langstane Place meets Gordon Street, topped with a shaped and coped curvilinear gable and a ball finial. A shaped wallhead stack is located to the left on the Gordon Street elevation. A slated hoist cage is a later addition above the Langstane Place block. Brickwork is visible on the rear/courtyard elevation.

The Gordon Street elevation consists of 3 bays from 1889, extended circa the 1890s by a further 10 bays. A shopfront is located at bay 1, with two carriage entrances fitted with sliding doors on tracks alternating with windows further south at ground level. Some first-story openings have been blocked at the lower half towards the southern end, while the second storey features large windows without top hoppers.

Numbers 11A-19 Bon-Accord Street incorporate original circa 1840 two-storey and attic houses (a 5-bay house to the left, nos. 11A-17, and a 2-bay house to the right, no. 19), which were adapted for use as offices and domestic premises by Campbells Ltd by 1889. Early plans indicate shopfronts and stable doors at ground floor levels of nos. 15 and 17, with storerooms to the rear within the courtyard. No. 11A, at the corner, was originally a funeral office for Campbells Ltd. Minor alterations occurred in 1908. The houses are granite ashlar with slated roofs, though the ground floor now features regrettable modern shopfronts. A wrought-iron Art Nouveau gate is located at the pend (leading to the Gilchrist Funeral Department) at No. 19. A pend/carriage entrance at No. 13 leads to concrete ramps within the courtyard. Plain sash and case windows are found at nos. 11A-17, with original glazing at the first floor and a top hopper window at no. 19. Bow fronted timber dormer windows feature at 11A-17, while canted timber-fronted dormers are located at No. 19, with end stacks present.

The courtyard contains early and advanced cantilevered concrete construction, providing ramps on two levels for horse access to the upper floors. Steel beams and mass concrete arched construction cantilevered over the courtyard are supported by cast-iron columns, presumed to be original and dating from the 1890s.