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Summary

Description

Alex W McNaughton, 1880. Extensive terrace comprising 3-storey and basement, 2-bay townhouses in classical style, with prominent 3-light full height canted bays; stepped down site, on ground sloping gently to N. Sandstone ashlar, droved at basement. Entrance platts oversailing basement. Banded base course; banded string course at 1st and 2nd floors. Moulded cill course at ground floor, moulded cornices at 1st and 2nd floors to canted bay. Corniced eaves course. Corniced doorpieces with large foliate console brackets; rectangular fanlights and narrow sidelights; predominantly timber 2-leaf, 6 panel doors. Moulded architraved 1st floor windows; bracketed cills at 2nd floor.

W (REAR) ELEVATION: coursed squared rubble with some droved ashlar quoins, rybats, cills and lintels. Roughly regular fenestration with some paired windows at 1st and 2nd floors.

INTERIOR: characterised decorative classical scheme, with well detailed cornicing and some wall panelling. Large 1st floor drawing rooms to front (with bay) contain elaborate cornicing and some large marble fireplaces. Cornicing continues throughout, less elaborate to upper floors. Later subdivision common throughout (2009). Grand entrance halls, with columns to No. 5.

Plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Mansard roof; grey slates. Corniced ashlar ridge stacks with octagonal clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Cast-iron railings edging basement area to street.

Statement of Special Interest

A well detailed terrace of townhouses with prominent full height canted bays providing good streetscape. The clarity of the design is retained, with few alterations affecting the building line. The terrace is part of the continued development of the West End of Edinburgh in the later nineteenth century after the completion of the nearby Dean Bridge (see separate listing). The design is characteristic of the later treatment of urban classicism with bold detailing and prominent use of features like canted bays.

This terrace was built on land bought by property developer (and Lord Provost of Edinburgh) James Steel, and along with Eglington Crescent (see separate listing) was one of Steel's first exclusive housing developments, after previously developing lower status housing in Tollcross. His relationship with the Heritable Estates Company assured a steady income allowing him to speculate with more exclusive developments. The terrace forms part of the long delayed residential expansion of the city in the late 19th century to the north of the Dean Bridge, following its completion in 1831-2. Unlike the earlier phases of the New Town the terraces of the Dean estate were exclusively of individual affluent family houses with lavish Victorian detailing. Changing social circumstances in the 20th century have led to a degree of alteration and adaptation.

Alexander McNaughton was an Edinburgh based architect who worked from the late 1870s until 1919. His work consisted predominantly of residential designs in the West End and Marchmont areas of Edinburgh. He worked with James Steel on several residential developments.

Category changed from B to C(S) as part of resurvey (2009).

References

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