53 Oakfield Avenue, Hillhead, Glasgow

This is a late 1860s Grecian-style terrace of tenements designed by Alexander Thomson. It is situated on Oakfield Avenue, Hillhead, Glasgow, with a flank elevation facing 18 Great George Street. The building comprises two main storeys, attics, and a basement, with three-storey pavilions at each end. A three-storey bay window projects from the flank elevation at 18 Great George Street.

The building is constructed of polished ashlar stone, with a droved finish to the basement. Much of the stonework has been stonecleaned. Steps overhang the basements, leading to paired, pillar-supported porches. The capitals and frieze of these porches feature incised Greek key decoration. Windows are recessed from the wall plane and have aprons. A double band course runs along the first floor, one of incised detail and the other featuring raised discs above the windows. Anthemions are carved into the recess between windows. Sash windows with plate glass glazing are present throughout. Band courses of disc moulding and Greek key decoration are found between floors. The pavilions are topped with acroteria. The ground floor openings feature pilastered reveals, flanked by pilasters with incised capitals. A pilastrade fronts five tall, deeply recessed windows on the first floor, with paired pilasters at the ends. Pilasters support an entablature with an anthemion and palmette frieze. The second floor follows a similar pattern, but on a smaller scale, with dwarf pilasters and a plain entablature. A band of Greek key decoration is visible between the ground and first floors. The original eaves cornice is present, along with simple, pilastered and pedimented dormers, though some alterations to these have occurred. Axial and wallhead stacks are visible, some with lotus-shaped flues. The areas around the dormers have leaded roofs, while the rest of the roof is slate.

The flank elevation to 18 Great George Street includes an advanced, pedimented, two-storey bay window with tripartite windows. Pilaster mullions and reveals are present at ground floor, with paired end pilasters on the first floor. The frieze of anthemion and palmettes continues from the main pavilions. Three small, pilastered attic windows are above. Steps lead to a basement with a scrolled stone parapet, leading to a doorpiece with pilastered reveals and recesses. A fanlight is flanked by dwarf pilasters. Architrave detailing with disc moulding is found above a single first-floor window. A band of Greek key decoration is again present between the ground and first floors. Paired squat ashlar gatepiers mark the entrance to Oakfield Avenue. The rear elevation is of droved ashlar and has a plain, regular appearance.

Internally, some original features remain, including good cast-iron balusters to the stairways, plaster cornice work, and ceiling roses.