Building record MAB40223 - MONTROSE ROYAL INFIRMARY, BRIDGE STREET, MONTROSE

Former infirmary attributed to architect James Collie, Glasgow, 1836-39.

Former infirmary attributed to architect James Collie, Glasgow, 1836-39. An early purpose-built hospital building in Greek Revival style. Two-storey main block with a symmetrical entrance elevation to the east and a later 2-storey ward block, built 1894, running parallel to main block to the rear. There were subsequent minor alterations in 1937 and small various modern flat-roofed additions to the rear. The building has a central pedimented entrance block, with an engaged tetrastyle Doric portico in brown/red polished ashlar and squared, dressed sandstone rubble to the main elevations. There are polished ashlar dressings and margins, including plinth and narrow raised margins at the angles, a cornice and parapet, pedimented gables, corniced apex stacks and architraved windows, those at the ground floor with apron panels below. The windows are 4-pane timber sash and case. The slated roofs are shallow-pitched. There are earlier-mid 19th century ancillary buildings detached to the north of the infirmary building. These include two slated pitched-roofed brown sandstone buildings attached at right angles and a second single-storey and basement building attached at right-angles, on a north-south axis, built in the slope of ground. The original panelled ashlar gatepiers and enclosing walls with decorative cast-iron railings were replaced circa 1940s, but retained the original boundary line. The infirmary was built to provide separate accommodation for the 'Sick Poor', who had formerly shared accommodation with asylum patients at the Montrose Lunatic Asylum (completed in 1781 as the first asylum to be built in Scotland). James Collie's designs were chosen from 15 competition entries published in the contemporary press. The contractors were David Mitchell, mason and John Crieg, wright. The foundation stone was laid on 28 June 1838, the Coronation Day of Queen Victoria. The level of Bridge Street was 'reduced by a foot or two' to enhance the effect of the new building. A sea wall to the west was raised by using the masonry from an old wall to Bridge Street and a new boundary wall, gatepiers and pavement were constructed to Bridge Street. Separate fever wards were built in 1866, linked by a covered walkway to the main block (now demolished). Mortuary and lift (latter replaced in 1912) were accommodated within the building in 1894. Documentary research as part of the Montrose Basin Survey noted reports in some sources that there were earlier building remains (18th century barracks) in built into the cellars of the hospital building.

Period Notes
Built 1836-39, with a later 2-storey ward block, built 1894 and alterations in 1937. Listed 11/06/1971

WHITE, H, 2012, MONTROSE BASIN SURVEY 1999-2012 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2127.

Record last edited

Sep 25 2024 11:02AM