Abden, 17 Barnshot Road, Colinton, Edinburgh

Abden, 17 Barnshot Road, Colinton, Edinburgh

Abden is a large two-storey villa with attic, designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson circa 1899, with later additions. It is an unusual Arts and Crafts composition of painted render with painted ashlar strip-quoins. The main block features a deep corniced string-course to its north and west elevations. The red tiled piended roof has a bell-cast profile with deep bracketed eaves to the west wing. A plainer servants' wing projects to the east, linked to the main house by a recessed link-building. A later first floor conservatory with open balustraded balcony was added to the south, and a piend-roof canted bay projects to the southwest corner.

The north (entrance) elevation is composed of four bays to the main body, with a single-bay servants' wing to the left and a two-bay recessed link-building between them featuring a covered section at ground level. The entrance comprises a two-leaf timber-panelled door within a chamfered ashlar surround, with a bipartite window above and moulded cill. Three windows light the ground floor to the left. A flat-roofed dormer breaks the eaves to the left return, with two smaller dormers stacked vertically above the corridor roof. The corridor and wing have irregular fenestration.

The west elevation features a two-storey canted bay to the right with three lights to each storey, and a slightly advanced bipartite window to the left with a flat-roofed dormer above breaking the eaves.

The south (principal/garden) elevation shows the main block to the left with an architraved timber-boarded door featuring brass strap hinges at the centre of a continuous advanced section. Quadripartite windows flank this doorway to each side. The later cantilevered first floor conservatory has an open balustraded balcony between glazed balustrades with quadripartite windows corresponding to those below. A central flat-roofed bipartite dormer lights the attic. The link has irregular glazing, and the east wing has a glazed door at ground level with a flanking window, and a central tripartite window to the first floor.

The east elevation has a slightly later single-storey outshot at ground level to the right with a timber panelled door, and an advanced section at first floor. Irregular fenestration includes a half-glazed timber panelled door at first floor centre, approached by a wrought-iron spiral staircase.

Windows are predominantly small-pane timber sash and case throughout, with timber casements to the smaller dormers and quadripartite windows to the south elevation. Tall rendered corniced stacks with irregularly arranged tall clay cans project from the roof, with a coped ridge stack to the east wing.

The interior retains considerable original detail. A small red-tiled entrance lobby with half-glazed timber panelled inner door leads to an entrance hall with a pilastered arch supporting the main timber-banisters staircase. The sitting room and dining room to the south are divided by a timber panelled partition with sliding doors, both featuring fireplaces flanked by glazed display cupboards. Original chimneypieces are present in the study and most bedrooms, each with timber mantelpiece, roll-moulded stone inner surrounds and delft tile insets. All rooms have timber-panelled doors. Decorative plaster cornices are evident throughout, notably in the dining and sitting rooms. The scullery wing contains a double porcelain sink with fixed wringer and a downstairs lavatory with decorative bowl.

The boundary comprises low ashlar coped walls rising to ashlar gatepiers inscribed "ABDEN", with decorative wrought-iron railings and gates.

A garage designed by the Office of Sir Robert Lorimer in 1924 stands on the property. It features two-leaf timber boarded doors and a side window, with ashlar frontage, harled sides, and a felt roof.