The Hermitage, 26 Gillespie Road, Edinburgh

The Hermitage, 26 Gillespie Road, Edinburgh

A 2-storey house with attic, designed by Sir Robert Lorimer in 1898, with additions by A Lorne Campbell in 1923 and 1927. The building is approximately square in plan and combines Arts and Crafts principles with both English and Scottish architectural details. It is constructed of honey-coloured Hailes sandstone, originally harled throughout though now harled only to the rear. The 1st floor is jettied out to the south and partly to the west, with moulded cills to the principal elevations.

The roof is bell-cast in profile, with a central swept-roof verandah to the south flanked by piend-roofed bays. A round turret rises to the east. The 1923 extension occupies the north-east corner as a single-storey addition. The main entrance is approached through a 2-storey outshot to the north-west corner, the upper storey of which was added in 1927, forming an entrance forecourt. A small shaped gable shelters the front door to the west.

West elevation: The off-centre timber-panelled front door is flanked by a mullioned window, both set within a roll-moulded red sandstone ashlar surround. The door lintel bears the inscription "IN ANGELO CUM LIBELLO" and the window lintel is inscribed "CS 1898 KMS". A deep cornice with a carved central panel depicting a ship on a sea of hearts surmounts this composition. Above is a jettied mansard-shaped gable-dormer, with a flat-roofed attic dormer above that. A small rectangular red sandstone plaque to the outer right displays the Edinburgh University crest surrounded by foliage inhabited by three birds. A harled outshot projects to the outer left, with a 1927 1st floor jettied out and a canted bay window to its south return. A wallhead stack rises to the west.

South (principal/garden) elevation: The central red-tiled verandah is recessed beneath a swept roof and carries small decorative carving to the centre of its lintel. A bow window and half-glazed timber-panelled door with leaded glazing provide access from the rear. A 3-light flat-roofed dormer sits above. Piend-roofed bays flank this composition on both sides, each with 4-light windows to both floors. The 1st floor is slightly jettied out.

East elevation: A tall staircase window occupies the centre, with a bipartite piend-roofed dormer above at attic level. A round turret with windows at both floors rises to the left, with a tapered stack between it and the staircase window. A mansard-shaped dormer-gable to the right contains a bipartite window at 1st floor level. A single-storey piend-roofed outshot from 1923, described as a "garden house", projects from the ground floor with a canted bay window to its south elevation.

North (rear) elevation: Four irregularly fenestrated blocks comprise this facade. A single-storey central section features a catslide roof with a tripartite dormer at 1st floor and a smaller dormer to the attic. An advanced piend-roofed section projects to the right; a piend-roofed bay rises to the left, incorporating a modern glazed back door. The rear of the garden house extends to the outer left with an advanced gable to its centre and a half-glazed timber-boarded back door.

The fenestration is predominantly modern double-glazed uPVC windows in the style of the originals, though original timber casements with leaded lights survive to ground-floor rooms of the south elevation, flanking the front door, and at the staircase window. Coped stacks carry tall red clay cans. The roof is red-tiled with cast-iron rainwater goods.

Interior

A central hall running through the house to the staircase is spanned by two arches. The drawing room contains a fairly plain chimneypiece with a decorative cast-iron grate and cushion-moulded hearthstone. The dining room features a fireplace with tile insets painted with birds, flanked by arched alcoves containing cupboards below. Double doors connect the dining room and sitting room. The sitting room has a corner fireplace with a plain surround and a corbelled mantelshelf supporting an octagonal looking-glass above. An arched alcove to the right of the fireplace flanks bookshelves beside the window, with cupboards below.

The timber staircase displays carved vine-motif panels between balusters with decorative plasterwork to the ceiling. Timber chimneypieces appear in all bedrooms, some with cast-iron grates and three with decorative tile insets. The bedroom in the 1927 extension contains a timber fireplace flanked by elliptical-arched built-in wardrobes. The 1923 garden room features an arched recess and coved ceiling with decorative vine-motif plasterwork. Cornices run throughout all rooms. Timber-panelled doors with brass Lorimer handles are used throughout.

Boundary and outbuildings

A random rubble boundary wall with coped gatepiers encloses the property. A flat-coped wall dividing garden from drive contains a decorative wrought-iron gate, possibly by Thomas Hadden. A 1927 red-tiled piend-roofed harled garage stands to the north-west of the house.