University House is a magnificent Italianate style Victorian townhouse, dating from about 1865 and described as of the style of James MacLaren, who was one of the leading Dundee architects of his time. Originally known as Elmslea House it occupies an enviable position on the north side of Perth Road, with views out over the River Tay to Fife. It is an exceptional example of the fine townhouses that were built at that period. The house, while partially altered inside, still retains much of its interesting architectural features, both externally and internally. It is currently split into two apartments and an entertaining suite in the original ground floor reception rooms with a commercial kitchen. The house is built around a small inner courtyard. Given its past uses the property offers considerable scope either to recreate an outstanding and substantial house, or for further development, subject to any necessary consents. Facing south towards the River Tay, University House sits within its own impressive grounds, at the junction of West Park Road and Perth Road. It boasts its original gate lodge (Elmslea Cottage) at its entrance off Perth Road, and a further entrance from West Park Road, thereby enhancing its development prospects. University House is a most imposing property of great character, occupying one of the finest sites in Dundee, and was believed to have been divided in 1947. The upper floor apartment was most recently tastefully refurbished in 2018, as was the gate lodge, and the central heating system was also upgraded. The flat at the back has latterly been used for storage, while the fine reception rooms have been used for events and entertaining, serviced by the commercial kitchen. All three are interlinking but have their own separate entrances. There are views from the upper floors through the garden trees and over the Tay to Fife.
Stone gates piers with gates from the Perth Road open onto a gravelled drive which leads past Elmslea Cottage and continues to the side of the house, arriving at tarmacked parking at the rear. Steps lead up to covered entrance with a front door to an entrance vestibule with ornate cornicing, panelled walls, mosaic tiled floor and a further entrance door to ramped access and a door giving access to the flat above. An inner door opens to an impressive hallway, again with ornate cornicing and panelled walls, together with a wooden floor. Off this is a magnificent drawing room with ornate ceiling, bay window, marble fireplace, window shutters and wooden floor. This opens through to an equally impressive dining room, again with an ornate ceiling, bay window and wooden floor, along with a fireplace with wooden mantel and double opening external doors to the garden, where there was once a conservatory. Also off the hallway is a cloakroom, off which are gents, ladies and disabled WCs, the latter having a hatch leading down to an underfloor wine cellar, previously used as a plant room. An inner passage gives access to a store room, pantry with a stainless-steel sink and commercial dishwasher, and to the commercial kitchen with chiller cabinets, ice machine, two sinks, Moorwood Vulcan oven with six ring gas hob, extractor hood, grill, microwave, and central storage and preparation unit. From the kitchen a side passage runs alongside the inner courtyard to a side entrance door and a plant room with two wall mounted ACV Prestige boilers and a separate WC with wash basin, and gives access to the rear flat. This also has its own entrance at the back of the house and comprises a hallway with stairs to the first floor and walk in understairs cupboard, a sitting room/bedroom and a kitchenette with sink, and a shower room with wash basin WC and shelved cupboard.
A further side entrance, also linked to the main entrance vestibule, opens to a staircase leading to the first floor flat with lobby and vestibule which opens to a hallway with ornate cornicing and wood panelling to dado level and walk in shelved cupboard. Off this is a study/bedroom with a fireplace with electric fire. A double aspect sitting room has a cornice, picture rail, window shutters, fireplace with electric fire, display shelves and doors to a dining room again with cornice, picture rail and window shutters, along with two wall lights, fireplace with electric fire, recessed shelves and wooden floor. Bedroom 1 is double aspect with cornice, picture rail, window shutters and a partially tiled en suite with shower room, wash basin and WC. The fully fitted kitchen has composite worktops and Siemens appliances inclusive of a dryer, washing machine, under counter freezer, dishwasher and fridge, together with a Franke sink, NEFF induction hob, grill and oven. Off a side landing, which connects to stairs from the rear flat, is bedroom 2 with cornice, picture rail and window shutters. Bedroom 3 also has a cornice and picture rail, and a fitted wardrobe, while a bathroom has a bath, shower cubicle, washbasin, bidet, WC and tiled floor. Stairs continue up to second floor with under eaves storage cupboards, laundry room with Belfast sink, Bosch washing machine and Electra dryer, along with two attic bedrooms with fitted cupboards.
The gardens surrounding University House have some fine specimen trees, as well as lawns and shrubs. Adjacent to the dining room is a paved terrace, while a sunken lawn would be ideal for croquet. A side garden has lawns and a small greenhouse. At the back, adjacent to the entrance from West Park Road, is a former stone built stable block and which now comprises two wood panelled garages, with power and light, a former stable and store room.
Elmslea Cottage is an attractive stone built lodge, with a slate roof, which at one point was divided into two. A front door opens to a vestibule with an inner door to a double aspect sitting room with a shelved cupboard. Off this is a bedroom, shower room with shower, washbasin and WC, and a kitchen with fitted units, a Lamona cooker with four ring gas hob and extractor, together with a sink. Also off the sitting room is a utility room (previously another kitchen when the cottage was divided) with fitted units, sink, plumbing for a washing machine and a shelved cupboard. Off an entrance hallway, with a cupboard, are two further bedrooms, one with a shelved cupboard and one with a cupboard housing a wall mounted Worcester boiler, together with a bathroom with bath, washbasin and WC. There is an enclosed area of garden to the side.
