Description
James Gillespie Graham, designed 1822. Near-symmetrical classical palace block, comprising advanced 3-storey and basement, 9-bay central pavilion, with central 3 bays advanced again, flanked by 2 pairs of predominantly 3-storey and basement, 3-bay houses, flanked in turn by pair of 4-storey and basement, 4-bay terminal pavilions. Polished ashlar sandstone; channelled V-jointed rustication at principal floor. Base course; band course between basement and principal floor; corniced frieze at impost level at terminal pavilions; cill courses at 1st and 2nd floors; cornice at 2nd floor of linking blocks; corniced frieze at 2nd floor of terminal pavilions; cornice and blocking course at 2nd floor of linking blocks; cornice and blocking course at 3rd floor of terminal pavilions. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversailing basement.
S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, CENTRAL PAVILION: advanced 9-bay central pavilion, with central 3 bays advanced again, comprising 4-panel timber door with plate glass semicircular fanlight in bay to right of centre (No 6), and in 3rd bays from outer left and right, No 5 with radial semicircular fanlight. Windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above, with 4 windows at 2nd floor of central 3 bays. Flagged basement area.
S ELEVATION, LINKING TERRACES: 2 pairs of 3-bay houses flanking central pavilion, all raised to 3-storey and basement, except No 4. 4-panel timber doors in bays to left at Nos 3, 8 and 9, and in bay to right at No 4. Plate glass semicircular fanlight to Nos 3 and 4, radial semicircular fanlight to Nos 8 and 9. Windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above. Flagged basement area.
E TERMINAL PAVILION: on corner site, comprising 5-bay bowed angle, flanked by pair of advanced pavilions; 4-bay pavilion to W (1 and 2 St Colme Street), 3-bay pavilion to N (2 Forres Street, see separate listing). Semi-engaged Doric columns flanking central 3-bays of bowed angle, Doric pilasters at outer left and right; Doric pilasters flanking bays at 1st and 2nd floors of advanced pavilion with E elevation, with panelled pilasters flanking bays at 3rd floor. Advanced pavilion with S elevation comprising 2-leaf timber door with radial semicircular fanlight in bay to right of centre at principal floor; infilled former door with radial semicircular fanlight in bay to outer right, windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above; architraved windows with cornices at 1st floor, architraved windows at 2nd and 3rd floors. Flagged basement area.
W TERMINAL PAVILION: 4-bay, comprising 4-panel timber door with plate-glass semicircular fanlight, in bay to left of centre; windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above, architraved windows with cornices at 1st floor, architraved windows at 2nd floor. Flagged basement area.
SW RETURN TO W TERMINAL PAVILION: advanced 4-bay elevation, Doric pilasters flanking bays at 1st and 2nd floors, panelled pilasters flanking bays at 3rd floor. 4-panel timber door with plate-glass semicircular fanlight, in bay to right of centre at principal floor; windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above. Flagged basement area.
AINSLIE PLACE RETURN TO W TERMINAL PAVILION: 4-bay, becoming 21 Ainslie Place (see separate listing).
Variety of timber sash and case windows. Cast-iron balconies spanning 3 bays at 1st floors of Nos 1-8 inclusively, and at 2 Forres Street. Grey slate M-roofs and pavilion roof; pair of box dormers at No 4. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Variety of broached ashlar and rendered ridge and wallhead stacks, some with cornices; coped, with circular cans.
INTERIORS: not seen, 1998; evidence of working panelled shutters.
RAILINGS: ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railing with fleur-de-lis and other decorative finials.