Description

John Webster, 1879-82. Symmetrical terrace of 2-storey, basement and attic, 2-bay townhouses with prominent full-height canted bays, set on ground falling to E. Sandstone ashlar, channelled at ground floor. Entrance platts oversailing basement area recess to street. Banded base course; band course at 1st floor; corniced eaves course. Inset doorways; panelled timber doors and plain rectangular fanlights.. Tile hung piend roofed dormers at attic, bi-partite flanked by tri-partite windows.

S (REAR) ELEVATION: coursed squared rubble with tooled ashlar rybats, lintels and cills. Roughly regular fenestration.

Plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Pitched roof; grey slates. Corniced ashlar ridge stacks with some clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Cast-iron railings edging basement area recess to street, incorporating some decorative lamp standards with large bowl shades.

INTERIOR: (selection of interiors seen 2010) decorative classical scheme, characterised by intricate plasterwork, large drawing rooms and stone stairs with well-detailed balustrades, topped by large cupolas. Some later conversion to flats.

Statement of Interest

16-26 St Bernard's Crescent is a good example of later Victorian urban planning and forms the gateway to an outstanding example of early 19th century urban planning in St Bernard's Crescent. The block responds to the surrounding layout of the crescent, which was designed by James Milne in 1824, with a simple design using plain classical details such as the band courses and banded ashlar at the ground floor. The crescent was designed as a key part of the development of the land of Sir Henry Raeburn. This section of the terrace was originally intended to be developed to the same design as the blocks to the east, but it remained a gap site until filled by Webster's development in 1879. These buildings are an integral part of Edinburgh's New Town, which is an outstanding example of classical urban planning that was influential throughout Britain and Europe.

Henry Raeburn was born in Stockbridge and acquired the house and grounds of Deanhaugh through marriage, before adding adjacent land at St Bernard's. He occupied St Bernard's House until his death in 1823 when it was demolished to accommodate the growing residential development of the estate, making space for the eastern side of Carlton Street. James Milne is likely to have been involved in designs for a number of the streets, including Ann Street (see separate listing) and the development is characterised by his use of simple classical detailing and Greek sources for his designs.

Little is known about John Webster who is recorded as both an architect and builder in the RIBA directories, with this building one of only three known works in Scotland.

(List description updated at re-survey 2012).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17807047

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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