Stained glass goddess
Persephone, the deity of spring, presides over this stunning family home
THE Victorians could never be described as a frivolous bunch – but clearly, at least one architect of the era opted for the lightest of touches when he designed this cottage-style home in 1860. First, he called it Sunnyside – then graced it with a breathtaking, triple-panel stained glass window depicting Persephone, the Greek goddess of spring.
If that’s not rampant optimism in wet and windy Glasgow, then I don’t know what is.
Yet the four-bedroom house in the city’s Pollokshields harbours a sorry tale of a lady who was cast out by her wealthy family because she found love ‘below stairs’.
Midway through Victoria’s reign, all things Greek were de rigueur in the Second City of the Empire.
Glasgow had its own Ionic icon in Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, who designed some of the city’s most striking and enduring pieces of Victorian architecture.
Around the time Sunnyside was being conceived, Thomson and his brother George were perfecting their style on residences such as Holmwood in Cathcart, which remains one of Glasgow’s most important A-Listed buildings.
No one is claiming Thomson designed Sunnyside – but there is an intriguing coincidence e linking the property with h Holmwood.
Thomson was tasked by Cathcart mill owner John Couper to design a new, imposing familyy home befitting a Victorian n captain of industry.
Mr Couper’s brother Robert also o owned a house on the riverside site. . It was called Sunnyside.
Two years later, the Pollokshields house with the same name was built, rich in Greek influences. The unusual cornicing contains parts of Greek columns; the doors in the drawing room are unquestionably fashioned in the Grecian style.
Current owner Paul Tausney makes no claims about his home’s provenance, choosing instead to recount the romantic tale passed down to him concerning the fate of a Victorian heiress.
He said: ‘I was told the house was built for a daughter of a well-to-do family, who owned a lot of land in the area.
‘From what I can gather, the house was meant to be her wedding gift. She never did get to live in it because she ran off with a man who was below her social status.’
Mr Tausney and his family are now running off themselves, though in a much more orderly and prepared fashion. They are emigrating to Australia – but will be sad to leave behind ‘a brilliant family home’.
He said: ‘The house hosted my daughter’s 21st “after party”. We had 40 of her friends back here, with 35 staying overnight. I play the guitar and my son plays the drums. Everyone was dancing to our music. It’s just a brilliant family home.’
The cottage-style frontage of the property belies its grand interior – especially the entrance hallway.
The four public rooms are to be found to the left and right. A conservatory on the side of the building was used to shoot an episode of Taggart.
There is a five-pane bay window in the drawing room – which Mr Tausney resisted the temptation to double-glaze, preferring the ‘traditional’ look.
Another living room can be found at the back of the house, along a fine woodpanelled corridor that leads to the kitchen. Climbing the grand staircase and passing the wonderful glazed depiction of Persephone, you come to the four bedrooms.
While the cottage style of Sunnyside demands a sloping roof, there is no feeling of ceilings imposing uncomfortably on the room space.
The family bathroom has recently been refurbished in appealing cream and maroon tiles.
Some house buyers may have concerns about Sunnyside’s proximity to St Albert’s Primary School, a 1970s edifice which wraps itself around the back of the property.
However, Mr Tausney insists that apart from morning arrivals and afternoon departures – plus during seven weeks of summer holidays – all’s quiet at Sunnyside.
Offers over £565,000 to Matthew Munday of Home Connexions Glasgow. Tel: 0141 212 8686 or email matt@homeconnexions.co.uk