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Summary

Description

J McIntyre Henry, 1900-1904. 3-storey and basement, 13- x 3- x 6-bay, Edwardian Palladian former County buildings on key, sloping, city centre site, with 3-storey basement at N and abutting Signet Library (see separate listing) at NE. Elevations to N (3-bay, High Street), E (10-bay, Parliament Square) and W (13-bay, George IV Bridge). Ashlar, with channelled rustication to ground. Moulded base course, cornice to ground, band courses, deep dentilled cornice and balustraded parapet with plain panels. Angle Ionic pilasters. 1st storey windows with pedimented Gibbsian surrounds, alternate segmental-arched pediments and balustraded aprons. Raised architraves to 2nd storey windows. Some Venetian windows.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: principle elevation to W with off-centre, 3-bay advanced pedimented fluted Ionic portico to 1st and 2nd floors with balustraded balcony. Central advanced entrance porch with blocked double-Doric columned doorpiece with Doric frieze and segmental-arched pediment with carved tympanum. Round-arched key-stoned doorway with recessed glass and timber swing doors. Slightly advanced, central pedimented section to N.

E elevation with off-centre, advanced 3-bay section with Venetian windows to 1st storey, separated by engaged, double Ionic-columns and with finely carved decorative frieze above (see Notes).

Predominantly 6- over 9-pane timber windows and 6-over 6-pane to top storey. Multi-pane sash and case to Venetian windows. Predominantly flat-roof with later air-vents and rooflights.

INTERIOR: (seen 2007). Lavishly decorated interior with many original features. Marble-pilastered entrance hall with timber columned screen. Wide stair with decorative metal balustrade and timber handrail leading to square, marble-floored upper hall with central viewing well and round-arched arcading with marble Ionic columns and pilasters. Coved ceiling with decorative carved frieze with Classical figures. Large barrel-vaulted room with richly decorative plasterwork to ceiling and dentilled cornice. Corniced walnut panelling with Corinthian pilasters and pedimented doorpiece. Windows with fluted Corinthian pilaster architraves. Other rooms with timber panelling, timber fire surrounds and overmantels. 6-panel timber doors throughout.

BALUSTRADE: low wall to E, S, and W with stone, vase-shaped balusters and stone coping.

Statement of Special Interest

A Group with Nos 2-11 Parliament Square, Advocates' Library, Signet Library, Parliament Hall, 1 Parliament Square, St Giles High Kirk, Charles II Statue, City Chambers, Alexander and Bucephalus Statue, Queensberry Memorial and the Market Cross.

Lothian Chambers is a distinctive, richly decorated key building situated in a prominent site in the city. Richly embellished, externally and internally, it is particularly notable for its pedimented entrance porticos and Gibbsian motifs in the window architraves and door surrounds. Situated at the junction of the High Street, George IV Bridge and Parliament Square, Lothian Chambers is a significant part of the streetscape at the heart of the Old Town. The assured decoration accords with its function as a major civic building. Of particular interest is the lavish Edwardian interior with its abundance of marble, fine plaster and timberwork. The romantic foliate and figurative iron balustrade to the principal staircase is particularly evocative of the period and of exceptional high quality.

The frieze to the E elevation was carved by W Birnie Rhind, a prolific architectural sculptor and has high reliefs depicting Agriculture, Mining and Fishing. The decorative plasterwork to the interior is by A Hunter.

James McIntyre Henry (1852-1929) practised in Edinburgh and had commissions mostly in Edinburgh and the Lothians. His output included public buildings, churches and private houses.

Currently Registrars' Office (2007).

References from previous list description: Academy Architecture 1900 1 and 1905 1

List description revised as part of Edinburgh Holyrood Ward resurvey 2007-08.

References

Bibliography

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