60, 62, 64, 66, 68 Murray Place

Built circa.1900, this classical fronted tenement is a dominating presence on one of the main thoroughfares in central Stirling, and is also one of the few early 20th century buildings to survive on the S side of the street which was extensively rebuilt in the later 20th century. The tenement was built as a combination of shop units at ground floor and offices and 2 and 3 bedroomed flat to the upper floors, an arrangement that survives largely intact today. The decorative N elevation is one of the most striking and detailed of the town centre tenements, and despite the modern shop frontage at ground, the tenement is a major contributor to the streetscape of Murray Place.

N (principal) elevation: 5-storey, 5-bay classical ashlar elevation. modern shop frontage at ground floor (some original detail may exist beneath this). Symmetrical 1st and 2nd floors; 5-bay with advanced central and outer bays; channelled rustication to 2nd and 4th bays. Open-pedimented, giant-order classical centrepiece mounted on corniced, foliate frieze to 4th and 5th floors, framing windows of central bay. Canted, 3-storey outer bays, flanked by continuous plain pilasters topped by ashlar spheres; surmounted by tripartite windows with deep moulded eaves. Windowpieces adorned by various pediments, decorative keystones and cartouches.

E & W elevations: blind, randon rubble elevations.

S (rear) elevation: red brick; plain fenestration to upper floors.

Interior: Nos.60, 62, 66, 68 all individual, modernised shop units with main doors to street. No.64

enters through a central doorway into a corridor with 2 panel coffered ceiling with dentil cornice, leading to the central stairwell. The internal stone stairwell is lit by a large, square pyramidical light at roof level, and has a dado of orange, cream and brown glazed ceramic tiles in decorative bands. Main doorways to offices and dwellings have classical moulded timber doorpieces with plain fanlights, and a mixture of 6 panel double and single leaf outer doors. The offices have relatively plain interiors with some simple plaster archways and cornicing, and surviving carved doorpieces, panelled window surrounds and fireplaces. Dwelling to left at 2nd floor now converted to office accommodation. Flat 8 retains original timber sash and case windows, egg and dart cornicing, skirting and doorpieces. Original classical carved fireplace in main reception room. Plain banded cornicing to other rooms with smaller cast-iron fireplaces in bedrooms and range cooker in kitchen. Original tongue and groove panelling to bathroom.

Access to other properties not possible, 2005.

Materials: sandstone ashlar to main elevation; coursed and snecked, squared rubble to sides and rear. Mostly timber sash and case windows; some PVCu windows to dwellings; pryamidical glass and cast iron rooflight above stairwell. Various single and double timber 6-panel doors to stairwell. Roofscape and roofing material unseen, 2005.