Hippolyte J Blanc, circa 1906. 2 storey red brick built dwelling on L-shaped plan. Pitched slated roof with red clay ridge and stone skews. Gable end chimney stacks with pots. Upper windows have unusual shallow dormer heads. Small offshoot single-storey extension.
Constructed as the engineer's house (for the power complex to the immediate West) to Bangour Village Hospital. Bangour Village Hospital is the best surviving example in Scotland of a psychiatric hospital created in the village system of patient care, a revolutionary concept in the late 19th century.
The hospital was built by the well-known Edinburgh architect Hippolyte J. Blanc as a result of a competition begun in 1898 and is the first of the new thinking in psychiatric provision to be conceived in Scotland. The Edinburgh Lunacy Board had concluded that a new psychiatric hospital was required to cater for the increasing numbers of patients from Edinburgh and the hospital was opened in 1906. The hospital was commissioned by the War Office in WWI and WWII for wounded soldiers and extra temporary structures were erected, most of which were dismantled after the War although some timber ones were retained by the hospital. Many more built during WWII were erected to the NW of the site and this became the basis of the Bangour General Hospital (now demolished). Bangour Village Hospital continued as a psychiatric hospital until 2004.
Hippolyte Blanc (1844-1917) was an eminent and prolific Edinburgh-based architect who was perhaps best known for his Gothic revival churches. He was also a keen antiquarian and many of his buildings evoke an earlier Scottish style.
Tags: XF 23/2 Bangour Abandoned Hippolyte J Blanc Cottage Psychiatric hospital Fujifilm X-Pro2
© All Rights Reserved
Tags: 40mm Summicron-c Cairnpapple View Scotland Hills Road Beecraigs
© All Rights Reserved
Built c. 1840, hints of enlargement by Keppie & Mackintosh in the pyramid roof rising up into a lantern and a raised dormer window jammed up against a tapered chimney.
Former schoolhouse.
Tags: Ecclesmachan Village Hall Keppie and Mackintosh 28mm Summicron ASPH
© All Rights Reserved
A D Haxton, Leven, completed 1938; internal decoration by John Alexander, Newcastle. Near rectangular-plan, Art Deco former cinema. Painted cement stucco to front with fan-shaped decorative motifs; marble dressings; painted harl to sides and rear. Channelled ashlar base course in part to front; stepped and painted parapets. Interior includes important plaster panels by John Alexander.
Original interior decorative scheme in place. Components of lobby, flanking stairs to balcony and 1st floor bar area in relation to auditorium intact. Decorative terrazzo flooring to lobby, compartmental ceiling with decorative plasterwork; timber doors. Chequered inlay to stair treads, veneered walnut dado panelling. 1st floor bar above lobby with glazed, 2-leaf timber doors; veneered walnut panelled walls to picture rail height; compartmental ceiling; original stained glass windows.
This former cinema is a good example of a provincial cinema, retaining a fine Art Deco decorative scheme to the interior and exterior and occupying a prominent site in the centre of the town. The cinema remains structurally intact, despite later alterations. John Alexander's fine decorative scheme, in particular the outstanding modelled plaster panels, are rare, being one of only two extant examples of his work in the UK (the other at the Northwick Cinema, Worcester).
Alexander (1888-1874) was a Newcastle-based designer, who specialised in flamboyant interiors for restaurants, ballrooms and cinemas, combining boldly modelled plaster work, decorative carpets, upholstery and curtains, ornate paint schemes and dramatic lighting.
This is the finest remaining example of A D Haxton's (1878-1960) cinema designs. Between 1914 and 1955, Haxton's practice worked extensively designing cinemas in Fife and West Lothian of which only 3 survive but in much altered form.
Tags: Art Deco Cinema Regal Bathgate West Lothian A D Haxton 28mm Summicron ASPH
© All Rights Reserved
Medieval church much altered in 1710, 1822 and 1908. Ecclesmachan Parish Church was dedicated to the 6-7th century St Machan. View of Ecclesmachan Church showing one of a pair of south doors, both of which are now blocked.
Tags: 50mm Summicron collapsible Norman Church
© All Rights Reserved