Lauder Technical College, Priory Lane, Dunfermline

Lauder Technical College, now converted to flats, was built in 1897-99 by H and D Barclay. A further extension was added to the rear (north) in 1995, along with an attic and an extra floor. Originally a rectangular-plan school, it now incorporates a central wing added to the rear. The design is in a Free Jacobean style, characterised by a projecting central entrance bay flanked by octagonal towers and a carved cartouche above the centre.

The original building is constructed of rockfaced sandstone with larger, heavily rockfaced blocks to the basement, and droved ashlar dressings. The later extension is largely rendered. A band course runs above the ground floor, and a moulded eaves cornice with a curved coped parapet tops the original block. Long and short surrounds to the windows and angle quoins are features of the original section, apart from the entirely ashlar entrance centrepiece.

The principal (south) elevation features concreted steps leading to a large central entrance with deep, splayed reveals and a moulded round arch. A replacement panelled timber door is fitted, with a three-light fanlight incorporating stone mullions. Above this is a large three-light window with a central mullion and a round-arched upper light, slightly set back. A balcony with carved stone balustrade sits in front of the window, flanked by bracketed panels carved with cross motifs; cross-shaped stone ventilation panels are positioned below. The band courses continue around the base of the flanking engaged octagonal towers, each of which has a narrow two-light transomed window set forward at the centre. Each tower is surmounted by a raised, gableted parapet featuring an ornate cartouche. Detached upper storeys with architraved, round-arched windows capped with keystones and aprons are placed above the towers, with identical openings on alternate faces. Deep moulded cornices and finialled bell-shaped ashlar domes complete the towers. Narrow openings are present on each of the three main floors of the projecting central entrance bay and window to the left of the basement. A dormer window, part of the 1995 conversion, is centered over the three flanking bays to either side of the entrancepiece.

The east and west elevations retain a single bay of the original block. Each bay features a two-light mullioned window to the ground and first floors, and one to the basement of the east elevation. A blank bay of the later rendered extension adjoins, set back to the north. The north elevation showcases the later extension, with a wing projecting to the centre; a paired, coursed sandstone bay features two-light mullioned windows and a pediment dated 1995.

The original building has mainly two, three, and five-pane timber sash and case windows, covered by a piended grey slate roof. Stacks were removed during the conversion to flats. The interior was not inspected in 1998.