Cowane's Hospital, 47-49 St John Street, Stirling

Cowane's Hospital, located at 47-49 St John Street in Stirling, is a former burgh hospital built between 1634 and 1661. The design is attributed to John Mylne, with James Rynd serving as the master mason. It is an example of Scottish Renaissance architecture, exhibiting Dutch-influenced detailing and an E-plan layout, characterised by crowstepped gables. The building is constructed of whitewashed rubble with tooled dressings, featuring moulded stringcourses and narrow quoins.

The north (principal) elevation is dominated by a four-stage, ogee-roofed tower at its centre, which incorporates a niche containing a painted statue of John Cowane. It features arched and pedimented belfry windows, narrow aedicules, and ball finials, with crow-stepped gables to the flanking wings. Apex chimneys are located in the outer bays. Inscribed panels and lintel stones with biblical quotations are also present.

The east elevation displays a strapwork pediment above a projecting, tripartite window with moulded mullions and a cornice. Below this are two corniced doorways, also adorned with strapwork detail and a “J C” monogram. The south elevation presents three pedimented windows that break the eaves, alternating with shouldered wallhead stacks.

Timber sash and case windows, predominantly with a 12-pane pattern, are used throughout. The roof is covered in grey slate with coped end stacks topped with octagonal cans, and cast-iron rainwater goods drain the building.

The interior underwent remodelling in the early 18th century and again in 1852 by F & W Mackison, transforming it into a Guildhall. The Guildhall features a pointed Gothic scheme with timber panelling to door height, highlighted with gilding. An arched open timber roof is supported by stone corbels. A large fireplace is situated in the east gable wall, and a stair leads to a timber gallery at the west end. A smaller, domed balcony is positioned on the north wall, supported by coupled timber consoles. A set of elaborately carved timber chairs bearing the mark of the Guildry (reversed "4") are also present. A stained glass window commemorating Cowane, created by James Ballantyne around 1852, is another interior feature. On the first floor, the arrangement of rooms to the north suggests the building's original hospital function. A turnpike stair descends to the cellar, which contains chamfered doorway dressings, stone corbels supporting the floor above, and an integrated fireplace and wash tub arrangement.

A pair of mid-19th century lampstands flank the main entrance on the north side, each featuring glazed lantern cases with coloured glass insets and intricate filigree metalwork caps displaying Guildry symbols (reversed "4").

Terraces to the southeast consist of two tiers with a coped balustrade and urn balusters. Sandstone steps with recessed risers lead to the upper terrace, which is paved with flagstones. Two Crimean cannons were placed on the lower terrace in 1858. A bowling green laid out in 1712 is adjacent to the hospital.

The boundary wall to the southeast incorporates reworked rubble additions built upon the foundation of an earlier section of the Town Wall. It extends from a raised terrace corner to the boundary wall of the Old Town Jail.