Description

Robert Reid, from 1819. 51-bay symmetrical palace block, comprising 4-storey and basement 9-bay central pavilion, flanked by pair of 3-storey and basement, 16-bay linking terraces, flanked in turn by pair of 4-storey and basement, 5-bay terminal pavilions. Polished ashlar sandstone; V-jointed rustication at principal floor; broached ashlar sandstone at basement. Base course; band courses between basement and principal floor, principal and 1st floors; corniced frieze at impost level in bays to outer left and right at principal floor of central pavilion, and at principal floor of terminal pavilions; cill course at 1st and 2nd floors; cornice and blocking course at 2nd floor of linking terraces; cornice at 2nd floor of central and terminal pavilions; cornice and blocking course at 3rd floor of central and terminal pavilions. Windows at 1st floor to pavilions corniced and architraved. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversailing basement.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, CENTRAL PAVILION: 9-bay with 3 bays at centre and bays to outer left and right advanced. 6-panel timber common stair door with blind semicircular fanlight (No 17) centred at principal floor; 6-panel timber doors with umbrella semicircular fanlights (Nos 15 and 19) in 3rd bays from left and right at principal floor. Pair of metal wall plaques to right of No 15, dated 1974, with Icelandic inscription to top plaque, English translation to lower plaque, reading 'The Icelandic National Anthem "O GU? VORS LANDS" by the composer Sveinbj?rn Sveinbj?rnsson and the poet Matthias Jochumsson was written and composed in this house in 1874'. Windows in remaining bays at principal floor, in round-arched recesses in bays to outer left and right; regular fenestration to floors above; architraved windows at 1st floor, pedimented with consoles in bays to outer left and right, remainder corniced with consoles; lunette window centred at 3rd floor. Wallhead panel spanning central bay. Flagged basement area.

N ELEVATION, LINKING TERRACES: pair of 16-bay linking terraces; terrace to right (Nos 5-13) comprising 6-panel timber doors with radial rectangular fanlights in 3rd bay and 6th bay from right, and in 3rd bay and 8th bay from left; terrace to left (Nos 21-35) comprising 4-panel timber doors in 3rd bay, 4th bay and 6th bay from right, and in 3rd bay, 5th bay and 6th bay from left, with variety of rectilinear and decorative rectangular fanlights. Windows in remaining bays at principal floor, with small window between 3rd and 4th bay from right at terrace to left; regular fenestration to floors above and basement. Flagged basement area.

W TERMINAL PAVILION: advanced bays to outer left and right; 4-panel timber doors, common stair door to right (No 1), with radial semicircular fanlights in bays flanking centre at principal floor; windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above and basement, comprising architraved windows at 1st floor, corniced with consoles in central 3 bays, pedimented with consoles in bays to outer left and right; lunette window centred at 3rd floor. Flagged basement area.

E TERMINAL PAVILION: advanced bays to outer left and right; 4-panel timber doors with radial semicircular fanlights, in bays flanking centre at principal floor; windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above and basement, comprising architraved windows at 1st floor, corniced with consoles in central 3 bays, pedimented with consoles in bays to outer left and right; blind lunette window centred at 3rd floor. Flagged basement area. Adjoining terrace to left, see separate listing (42-54 Broughton Street).

DRUMMOND PLACE RETURN TO W TERMINAL PAVILION: 5-bay, becoming 37 Drummond Place (see separate listing).

Predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roofs. Polygonal piended slate hung dormers at Nos 5, 7 and 33; pairs of polygonal piended slate-hung dormers at Nos 13, 21 and 25. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Broached ashlar and rendered ridge stacks, shouldered at No 7; wallhead stacks spanning centre bay at 3rd floors of terminal pavilions; coped, some with cornices, with circular cans.

INTERIORS: not seen, 1998.

RAILINGS AND LAMPS: ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with decorative finials. Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.

Statement of Interest

Part of the Edinburgh New Town A Group. London Street, feued by the Magistrates, was part of the first extension of the New Town planned by Reid and Sibbald in 1802. Building started on the north side in 1807. The elevation of the south side was partly revised by Thomas Brown, and approved in Council on September 22 1819.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17575369

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.

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