Royal Dundee Liff Hospital

Royal Dundee Liff Hospital

Designed by Charles Edward and T S Robertson and built between 1877 and 1882, this substantial Baronial hospital wards block is a near-symmetrical composition dating from 1880. It comprises predominantly 2-storey accommodation with 3-storey and attic sections, single storey ranges, and a 4-stage tower. The building is constructed in stugged, squared and snecked pink sandstone with ashlar dressings, base course, chamfered arrises, and eaves course. Crowstepped gables are a distinctive feature throughout.

The principal elevation presents an impressive 43-bay composition to the centre with advanced 3-bay wings framing the facade. At the heart stands an advanced 3-storey, 3-bay centrepiece with a tall ground floor featuring a 5-light canted window with crenellated parapet. This central feature sits between advanced flanks with bipartite windows at ground level, rounded corners, and corbelled round bartizans at the 2nd floor. The 1st and 2nd floors carry smaller bipartite windows, while a stone balustraded parapet links the bartizans over the centre bay. Attic windows within gableheads are small and pedimented, set above carved square panels inscribed with "E" and "R" (the architect's initials). A central open-work spire is now missing. Flanking this centrepiece are gabled bays opening onto long 20-bay ranges, each with pedimented bipartite windows at 1st floor set in slightly advanced positions within re-entrant angles. Eight regularly fenestrated bays follow, flanked by slightly advanced 4-bay sections with canted 4-light windows at ground in the outer gabled bays and broken pedimented bipartites at 1st floor. A further 7 regularly fenestrated bays extend beyond.

Advanced outer wings each present 3 window and door bays to their inner elevations. Slightly advanced lean-to roofed bays sit in re-entrant angles off-centre, terminating in paired gabled bays with bipartite windows (or doors) at ground and windows to the 1st floor, with narrow attic windows lit in the gablehead above chimney-headed stacks. The end elevations of the advanced wings are each 3-bay compositions with a gabled bay to the inner side, a canted window at ground, crenellated parapet, and regular fenestration to the centre and outer bays.

The entrance elevation is symmetrical in its 2-storey and attic composition, with an 11-bay entrance block terminating the centre wing. An advanced gabled bay to the centre contains a pilastered and corniced doorpiece framing a basket-arched doorway with panelled door and 2-pane fanlight. Above the door sits a bipartite window with roll-moulded surround and a scrolled ribbon above the lintel. Below this rises a pedimented panel in the gablehead containing the arms of Dundee and the date '1880'. Corners are rounded with corbelled circular section bartizans at eaves. The centre wing reads through as a 3-storey block from the principal elevation and incorporates corbelled circular section dormers flanking the centre, with single storey links connecting to the main entrance block. Flanking bays on each side consist of slightly advanced 2-bay gables to the centre, flanked by a single bay towards the entrance and 2 bays to the outer side.

The side elevations present a 2-storey composition with paired gables and canted bays corbelled out into circular towers topped with candle-snuffer roofs. Single storey ranges complete the return ends of the side wings: at the east end sits the laundry and sewing room with a steeper roof, while at the west end is the workshop.

The inner courtyard contains a 3-storey and basement structure with a crenellated water tower. Four-stage gabled towers set in re-entrant angles of the principal and side elevations rise from the courtyard side. Each tower features corbelled circular section bartizans clasping the 4 corners at eaves, topped with conical roofs.

A tapered red engineering brick chimney stalk rises from an altered and rebuilt boiler house to the rear, banded at intervals and painted at the head. Curved screen walls frame the entrance block symmetrically, with simple railings fronting the terrace.

Windows throughout are timber sash and case, predominantly with 4-pane glazing patterns, though some 2-pane and 12-pane examples exist; several have been fixed or altered for ventilation. Grey slate roofs cover the building, with beak skewputts and gablehead and ridge stacks featuring battered coping. Carved stone gablehead finials and iron finials adorn the conical roofs of bartizans and turrets. Fire escapes are positioned to the rear and within various re-entrant angles.

The interior is simple and largely re-ordered. Two mural paintings by Alberto Morocco, executed in 1961, are located in the patient's dining room, painted directly onto the plaster walls. One depicts a Scottish harbour scene while the other shows a contrasting beach scene in sunnier climes.