Cairndowan, 3 Victoria Circus, Dowanhill, Glasgow

Cairndowan is a mid-19th century, two-storey villa located at 3 Victoria Circus in Dowanhill, Glasgow. The villa features classical details and is constructed of painted ashlar. It has a three-bay façade with an advanced left bay and a well-designed conservatory to the west.

The entrance is approached by steps leading to a centrally placed Roman Doric porch, which is pilastered and topped with a full Doric entablature, although some guttae mouldings are missing. The porch has a wide cornice and a pierced balcony above. The double-leaf panelled door is framed by pilastered reveals that support a moulded archivolt. Above the door, there is a single light window with pilastered reveals, and the lower sash is leaded. To the right on the ground floor, there is an architraved window with an apron panel, and large paired consoles support the pierced ashlar balustrade. The first-floor window is flanked by paired strip-pilasters that rise to brackets supporting a projecting section of the eaves. The left advanced bay features a full-height canted window with pilaster-mullions.

The villa has sash windows with plate glass glazing, and the angle margins and eaves course are shouldered at the angles. The eaves are wide and bracketed. The flank is made of stugged coursed ashlar, and there are corniced axial and wallhead stacks with tall square cans that have dentil detail. The rear elevation is also stugged ashlar, featuring a centrally placed tall arched stair light with leaded glass. The roof is M-shaped and covered with slate.

To the southwest, there is a two-storey gabled service or mews range that has been much altered and converted into a dwelling; it is constructed of brick with barge-boarding at the gables. The conservatory has an ashlar panelled plinth that supports a wood and glass structure, predominantly featuring round-arched glazing. The boundary wall is made of droved ashlar with polished coping, and there are tall square painted ashlar corniced gatepiers.