Description

Robert Wilson, 1887. 2-storey symmetrical school in classical style on corner site. Cream sandstone polished ashlar to principal elevation; squared and snecked rubble to sides and rear. Base course; dividing band course; consoled cornice and blocking course; architraved windows.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: central advanced 3-storey, 3-bay pedimented block (2nd floor windows partially in-filled) flanked by engaged polygonal towers with pilastered and domed cupolas. 2-storey, 3-bay wings flanking. Lower 2-storey, 2-bay wings recessed to outer left and right; round-arched doorways with square-columned pedimented doorpieces in penultimate bays; corniced and architraved doorways in outer bays.

E ELEVATION: asymmetrical; ashlar bay to left with windows off-centre to right of ground and 1st floors; single storey wing adjoining to outer right, window to left; 2-storey wing to far right.

N ELEVATION: not seen 2000.

W ELEVATION: asymmetrical; ashlar bay to right with windows off-centre to left of ground and 1st floors; single storey canted wing advanced to outer left, regular fenestration; 2-storey wing to far left.

15-pane timber sash and case windows (6-pane upper sashes, 9-pane lower sashes). Grey slate piended roof; polygonal roof ventilators with swept caps. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: not seen 1997.

JANITOR'S HOUSE: 2-storey, 3-bay, symmetrical rectangular-plan classical house adjoining No 25 Torphichen Street. Base, band and cill courses; cornice. E (entrance) elevation: recessed central bay; tripartite doorway; panelled door; fanlight; single window above and in bays to outer left and right. S (Torphichen Street) elevation: single bay; single windows to both floors.

GATES, GATEPIERS, BOUNDARY WALLS AND RAILINGS: plain iron railing gates; corniced pedestrian gatepiers.

Statement of Interest

Wilson, as architect to the Edinburgh School Board, designed numerous other schools including Milton House (1886), Marchmont Road (1882), Sciennes (1889), South Morningside (1891), Castlehill (1896), and North Canongate Infant (1900). Torphichen Street School was planned as a combined infant and juvenile school with two classroom blocks (N and S) linked by a central stair hall. Internally the building was divided at the ground floor with girls to E and boys to W; and at the 1st floor, boys to E and girls to W. The S block at the front of the site was angled to turn the corner from Torphichen Street to Canning Street. Apart from careful planning to fit the existing street plan, Torphichen Street School was also proportioned and detailed in sympathy with the neighbouring earlier 19th century tenements.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17809715

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

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  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
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  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
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  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
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  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
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  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living