Description

Robert Reid and William Sibbald, 1804, with design alterations by Thomas Bonnar, 1817-18. 22-bay symmetrical terrace, with curved frontage; comprising pair of 4-storey and basement, 5-bay terminal pavilions, linked by 3-storey and basement, 12-bay terrace. Polished ashlar sandstone; V-jointed rustication at principal floor; rock-faced at basement. Base course at principal and 1st floors; cill course at 1st and 2nd floors; cornice and blocking course at 2nd floor of linking terrace, continued as cornice at 2nd floor of terminal pavilions; cornice and blocking course at 3rd floor of terminal pavilions. Corniced frieze at impost level to terminal pavilions. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversailing basements.

SW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, LINKING TERRACE: 3-storey and basement, 12-bay linking terrace, comprising 4 3-bay houses; doors in bays to right, windows in bays to centre and left, at principal floor. Predominantly 4-panel timber doors with variety of decorative rectangular fanlights. Flagged basement areas with vertically boarded timber doors to cellars.

TERMINAL PAVILIONS: mirrored pair of 4-storey and basement, 5-bay terminal pavilions; comprising advanced bays to outer left and right; Ionic pilasters dividing central bays at 1st and 2nd floors, semi-engaged to outer left and right, with patera above capitals. Round-arched doorpieces at centre at principal floor, with 4-panel timber doors and plate-glass semicircular fanlights, flanked by windows in round-arched recesses; regular fenestration to floors above, with windows corniced with consoles in centre 3 bays at 1st floor, flanked by windows pedimented with consoles to outer bays; lunette windows centred at 3rd floors; wallhead panels centred at blocking courses. Blind balustered aprons to 1st floor windows; balusters removed and cills lowered at centre, left and outer left of No 36. Flagged basement area with vertically boarded timber doors to cellars.

SCOTLAND STREET RETURN TO W TERMINAL PAVILION: 4-storey and basement, 6-bay elevation, becoming No 1-3A (Odd Nos) Scotland Street, comprising pair of round-arched doorpieces in centred at principal floor, with 4-panel timber doors and radial semicircular fanlights, blind fanlight to right, flanked by windows in bays to left, and blind windows in bays to right; regular fenestration to floors above, with blind windows in outer right and penultimate bay from right to all floors. Flagged basement area, with vertically boarded timber doors with droved dressings to cellars. N elevation obscured by adjoining terrace (5 and 7 Scotland Street, see separate listing).

LONDON STREET RETURN TO E TERMINAL PAVILION: 4-storey and basement, 5-bay S elevation, becoming Nos 2 and 4 London Street, comprising advanced bays to outer left and right; round-arched doorpieces in bays at centre and outer right at principal floor, 4-panel timber doors with radial semicircular fanlights, windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays; regular fenestration to floors above; windows corniced with consoles in central 3 bays, pedimented with consoles to outer left and right, at 1st floor; blind balustered apron to all bays at 1st floor; blind window at outer left at 3rd floor; lunette window centred at 3rd floor. Flagged basement area with vertically boarded timber doors to cellars. E elevation obscured by adjoining terrace (8 and 10 London Street, see separate listing).

Predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows; window guards at 1st floor of E terminal pavilion, and at outer right and penultimate bay from right at 2nd floor of London Street return of E terminal pavilion. Predominantly 6-panel flush-beaded timber doors to basement. Grey slate M-roof. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Variety of broached and rendered ridge, gablehead and wallhead stacks; shouldered wallhead stack centred at London Street return to E terminal pavilion; coped with circular cans.

INTERIORS: not seen, 1997, but some evidence of working panelled shutters. Groin vaults to entrance halls at Nos 33-36

RAILINGS AND LAMPS: ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with spear-headed balusters and urn finials. Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.

Statement of Interest

Part of the Second New Town A Group, a significant surviving part of one of the most important and best preserved examples of urban planning in Britain.

Drummond Place feued by the magistrates was part of the 1st extension of the New Town planned by Reid and Sibbald in 1802. The elevations, designed by Robert Reid, were partly revised for execution by Thomas Bonnar in 1817-18. Building in Drummond Place had started in 1806 but only the Dublin Street corner was built, and did not start again until after the Bonnar revision. At first Thomas Pringle and Thomas Caldwell builders took most of the feus, but sections of it were relinquished to other builders. It was finished in 1823. No 31-36A Drummond Place was built by Charles Alison in 1818-19, after Thomas Bonnar's revision of Reid's elevation, dated 31 December 1817. The curved frontage of the principal elevation mirrors Nos 37-42 Drummond Place, and together they create a semicircular E end to the square. Lord Robertson lived at No 32.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17568825

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)