Kildean Hospital, Stirling

Ebenezer Simpson of Stirling, architect; B Reynolds, building contractor. Begun 1901, officially opened 1904. 2-storey, 3-bay, rectangular-plan block with flanking single storey, 2-bay wings creating U-plan hospital building (former administrative block). Canted bay windows to ground floor principal elevation; central pediment; moulded string course between storeys continues as cornice to door and bay windows. Snecked rock-faced sandstone; stop chamfered ashlar window surrounds; ashlar margins to doors and long and short quoins; slightly advanced plinth to S.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical elevation. Decorative doorpiece to central door; moulded and rusticated architrave; keystone. 'ERECTED AD 1903' carved within frieze with stylised floral motif. Single windows flank door. Canted bay windows to outer bays; bipartite window to centre; recessed plaque above. Corniced bipartite 1st floor window centred above door with frieze; flanking single windows close to eaves. Corniced pediment to centre, raised above roofline; 'THE STIRLING COMBINATION HOSPITAL' carved below pediment. Coats of arms of Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Doune and Callander carved within tympanum; flanking ball finials. Wings set back to left and right; 2 windows to each wing. Later stone ramp and steps with cast-iron railings lead up to entrance.

W ELEVATION: central bipartite 1st floor window to main block. 3 windows to wing.

N ELEVATION: advanced off-centre piended porch (partially infilled); door and window; bipartite windows to outer bays. 2 1st floor windows to left; 3 to right (smaller central window). Advanced flanking wings; plain elevation to right with outshot to E; 2 doors in left return. Left wing; 2 windows in N elevation; window and door in right return.

E ELEVATION: central 1st floor window to main block. Advanced wing; single window to left; 2 windows to right; central bipartite window.

2-leaf timber panelled entrance door; fanlight. Plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Piended grey slate roofs; clay ridge and hip tiles; overhanging eaves. Corniced ashlar stack with string course rising from pediment; central wallhead stack to N; 2 circular clay cans to each stack.

INTERIOR: not seen, 2002.

BOUNDARY WALL AND GATEPIERS: snecked rock-faced wall with flat coping stones runs along Drip Road to enclose Kildean Hospital site. Lower wall to E with plain cast-iron railings; taller stone wall without railings to W. Pair of 2 corniced and banded entrance piers with chamfered base to E surmounted by swept stones with ball finials. Similar terminating pier to W (finial missing).