Hillside Place, Carrick Castle

Hillside Place is a rectangular-plan, 3-storey Scots Baronial tenement block, dated 1877. It is evidence of the 19th century tourist trade around Loch Goil. The tenement formos unusual in a semi-rural setting.

DESCRIPTION

The principal (E) elevation of Hillside Place faces the pier, and is a symmetrical composition of 5 bays, with a crowstepped gable to the advanced centre bay. To the ground floor, the 2-leaf door to the centre would have given access through a hall to the stair well; the open well stair with cast-iron balusters gives access to the flats on each floor.

The use of corner bartizans (conical roofs no longer extant) and, on the east and north, dormer headed windows with scrolled and finialled pediments gives the tenement the Scots Baronial character that is typical of the period and would have provided a suitably impressive appearance to appeal to prospective purchasers of the apartments within. These two elevations also feature leaded mansard detailing to the roof, between the dormers. The S and W elevations are much plainer. The west elevation shows clear visual evidence (see the abrupt termination in roof, and the use of rendering rather than rubble) to show that it was intended to build further to the W at one point; this would have created an L-plan building. However, there is no map evidence to suggest that this continuation actually happened; this was perhaps because the take up of the existing apartments was less enthusiastic than originally expected.

The NE corner of the tenement, at ground floor, was occupied by a Post Office; hence the larger, shop style windows.

INTERIOR

Admission to apartments not gained at time of resurvey (2004)

MATERIALS

Predominantly rubble; ashlar sandstone to ground floor of the front elevation and dressings and mouldings. Piended roof; slated; leaded mansard detailing to east and north elevations. Some wallhead stacks and some mid-pitch stacks, mainly corniced ashlar with circular cans.

Mainly timber 4-pane sash and case windows; doors to east elevation are 2-leaf timber panelled doors; timber and glazed door to the north elevation. The building underwent renovation in the late 20th century, and it is likely that many, if not all, of the windows and doors date from tihis period.