Ashbrook, 492 Ferry Road, Edinburgh

Ashbrook, 492 Ferry Road, Edinburgh

A large asymmetrical Italianate villa designed by Robert Raeburn in 1869. The building comprises two storeys over a basement, with a rectangular principal block and corner projections forming a near H-plan. A service wing extends from the north-east projection, though this has been partly demolished. A three-stage tower rises at the centre of the principal south elevation.

The main body is constructed of stugged sandstone ashlar with polished ashlar dressings, while the service wing uses stugged squared snecked sandstone with droved ashlar dressings. A droved ashlar base course of two courses runs across the building. Band courses link the heads of ground floor windows and the sills of first floor windows on all elevations except the service wing and part of the east elevation (part of the west elevation also lacks this sill band).

The principal south elevation is dominated by the central tower, which projects slightly forward and is approached by steps up to the central entrance. The tripartite doorway features a central two-leaf six-panelled door flanked by columnar mullions with stylised composite capitals. Above is a tripartite fanlight with keystones, flanked by ornate consoles supporting a stone canopy with antefixae. A round-arched window rises above with a balustraded stone balcony with panelled corner blocks supported on stone brackets and an ornate canopy. The tower's upper stage is surrounded by a decorative cast iron balustrade supported on stone brackets. The tower displays three-light arcaded windows on each face with keystones and columnar mullions featuring stylised composite capitals, stone brackets above supporting a projecting cornice, and a pavilion roof with weathervane finial.

To the left of the tower is a two-storey canted bay with piended roof and five-light arcaded windows to each floor. The ground floor windows are round-arched with keystones and columnar mullions with stylised composite capitals, while the first floor windows are segmental-headed and lack keystones. Three regularly spaced windows occupy the right side to each floor. A bracketed stone roof cornice runs across the elevation.

The west elevation comprises four regularly-fenestrated bays at the centre, flanked by projecting sections with bracketed cornices. The left projecting section contains a central two-storey canted bay with four-light arcaded windows to both floors, matching the style of the principal elevation's canted bay. The right projecting section features a three-light arcaded window to the ground floor and a two-light arcaded window above, with similar detailing.

The east elevation displays a central three-light arcaded stair window with irregular fenestration on either side. The left projecting section has arcaded windows matching those of the right projecting section on the west elevation. The right projecting section adjoins the partially surviving service wing.

The north rear elevation shows regular fenestration with two slightly projecting central bays flanked by three bays on either side. A ground floor window to the right of the central projecting section has been converted to a door with steps added.

The truncated service wing features a mansard roof creating an attic storey. An entrance (possibly originally internal) is positioned to the left. Two windows occupy each floor on the north and south elevations, with ground floor windows round-arched and architraved.

All windows are predominantly two-pane timber sash and case windows. The roofs are piended grey slate. Four ashlar chimneys with bracketed cornices and round cans are distributed across the building: two mid-pitch stacks to the main body of the east and west elevations, one wallhead stack at the junction with the service wing, and one low-pitch stack (almost wallhead) to the central projecting section of the rear north elevation.

The interior, partially inspected in 1997, retains a substantially intact ground floor plan with a central hall and corridor flanked by reception rooms on either side. Original detailing survives throughout, including plaster cornices and four-panelled timber doors. The vestibule behind the main entrance is formed by a glazed timber door screen with a two-leaf door (upper part glazed, lower part panelled) flanked by side lights and overlights. Elaborately carved timber dado panels to either side depict heraldic emblems, various botanical species including acorns and thistles, and diaper patterns, possibly copied from an earlier source.

The reception rooms on either side of the main entrance each contain elaborate fireplace surrounds of cast iron and timber. The left room's surround features engaged columns and a lion's mask frieze, while the right room's has fluted pilasters. Both incorporate later inserts with Delft tiles. A half-turn staircase to the right along the hall and corridor features a decorative cast iron balustrade with timber handrail and a three-light arcaded stair window with red-patterned border glazing.

The south boundary features three low chamfered sandstone ashlar gatepiers with remains of cast iron lamp brackets on top, marking the entrance to a curved driveway. Low coursed sandstone walls with rounded ashlar coping curve outward and run parallel to Ferry Road on either side.