Allermuir, 15 Woodhall Road, Edinburgh

Allermuir, 15 Woodhall Road, Edinburgh

This is a Grade A listed 2-storey and attic house designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson for himself in 1879, with additions made in 1906. It exemplifies the Scots Jacobean style with its asymmetrical composition, multiple gables with crowsteps, and tall chimney stacks.

The exterior is constructed of bull-faced snecked sandstone with rake-jointing in some places and polished ashlar dressings. Relieving arches sit above windows on all elevations. The roof is covered in red tiles with red ridge tiles. Tall corniced and coped chimney stacks feature decorative clay cans. The windows are predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows with cast-iron downpipes and fairly plain hoppers.

The west (entrance) elevation features a blind gable with a gablehead stack. At its centre stands a slightly advanced single-storey balustraded entrance lobby with a timber panelled door set in a roll-moulded architrave frame. The lintel bears the carved inscription "ADSIT DEUS". Above this sits a chamfered leaded fanlight flanked by the monogram "RRA 1879", all within bracket-shaped roll-moulding and surmounted by a small dentiled pediment. A tall window flanks the door to the left. A string course and eaves cornice run below the balustrade. Behind the lobby rises a 3-storey gable containing a tall staircase window and a small window at the gable apex. A bipartite piended-roof dormer projects to the left, with various single-storey offices below.

The south (principal/garden) elevation comprises four bays with a slightly advanced 2-bay gabled section to the right, topped by a gablehead stack. A 2-storey piend-roofed canted bay sits to the right, slightly corbelled out at first-floor level. The attic of the gable has a small off-centre window. An advanced corbelled window with a piended dormer-roof breaks the eaves at first-floor level to the outer left. The central bays have regular fenestration.

The east (side) elevation features a slightly advanced shouldered stack to the outer left. A large bracketed box window at first-floor level occupies the centre (a 1920s addition), surmounted by a gable-headed dormer. A slightly advanced gable stands to the right, with a piend-roofed L-shaped service outshot at ground level featuring a timber panelled back door. Two windows occupy the outer right.

The north elevation has a forward-facing gable to the left with irregular fenestration, including a corbelled bipartite mullioned window at first-floor level. A half-glazed timber panelled back door sits at the centre within a roll-moulded surround with a leaded fanlight above the lintel. A service annex extends to the right.

The interior contains distinguished architectural detail. The large lobby is panelled to dado height with a fully glazed inner door and black and white marble tiles. The inner and outer entrance halls are fully panelled in Columbian pine with compartmented ceilings and a corner fireplace to the inner hall featuring a roll-moulded stone chimney-piece and glazed display cupboard above.

The morning room has a cast-iron grate with a decorative rondel and roll-moulded red sandstone surround, with a timber mantelshelf and overmantel. The fireplace surround is set within a timber panelled arched recess with flanking display shelves.

The dining room is fully panelled in Columbian pine with a cross-beamed ceiling. The canted window bay has shutters. A moulded stone fireplace features tile insets and a pedimented timber mantelshelf with a small mirrored inset between scrolled brackets.

The Columbian pine staircase is panelled to dado level with two arches at the stair head and a compartmented ceiling. Turned baluster rails and a carved hand-rail continue to the fully panelled landing.

The upstairs drawing room is fully panelled in Columbian pine with a compartmented ceiling. It contains a white marble fire-surround with delft tile inset and dentiled timber mantelshelf, surmounted by a bevelled plate glass mirror. The canted bay window is set behind a semicircular arch. Timber panelled doors occur throughout the interior.

The boundary wall is a low ashlar-coped rubble wall with pyramidal-capped ashlar gate piers and plain wrought-iron gates.