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Summary

Description

Probably Robert Brown, 1824-5. Extensive 3-storey and basement, plain classical commercial terrace with early 19th century shop premises to ground floor. 2 bays returning to William Street NE Lane. All on ground falling to N. Later addition to No. 31 at ground floor with flat lead roof. Smooth sandstone ashlar, painted at ground floor to S elevation. Coursed squared rubble with long and short ashlar quoins to E elevation. Corniced fascia. Banded cill course at 1st and 2nd floors. Corniced eaves course with narrow blocking course above.

W (WILLIAM STREET NE LANE) ELEVATION: roughly 4 storeys and 2 bays. Ground falling to N. Painted rubble to ground and lower ground floors. Tooled rybats to openings. Relieving arch at 1st floor window.

NORTH (REAR) ELEVATION: 3-storey 24-bay roughly squared and coursed rubble with tooled long and short quoin stones. Irregular fenestration with tooled rybats lintels and cills.

Varied arrangement to shop fronts, some plate glass and some fixed 12-pane timber shop windows. 12-pane timber sash and case windows to 1st and 2nd floors. Corniced gable end stacks with modern clay cans, corniced ashlar ridge stacks, ashlar skews. Cast iron railings to street edging basement recess where present. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

Statement of Special Interest

An important grouping of late Georgian shops and tenements. The original earlier 19th century shop front configuration is largely retained. William Street was planned as a service street by Robert Brown. Similar to Rose Street in the first New Town these streets provided accommodation for artisans and tradesmen. It was essential to have such services close to high quality housing, before larger more comprehensive shops were developed. This necessity can also be seen in John Nash's designs for Regents Terrace in London.

William Street was at the centre of land owned by Patrick Walker after being bought for him by his father William Walker. It was developed to a plan drawn up by Robert Brown in 1813 as part of a wider scheme for the development of the Walker Estate.

Robert Brown was an experienced architect, and by the time he was involved with the deigns for the Walker Estate he had already designed several other urban schemes, including between 1810 and 1830 laying out streets in Portobello on land belonging to the Marques of Abercorn. His other notable works include Newington and St. Leonard's church (now The Queen's Hall) and the rearrangement of the interiors for Yester House on behalf of the Marques of Tweeddale. Robert Brown worked on a number of smaller projects in the New Town but the cohesive planning of the Walker estate is amongst one of the best examples of his work. He was especially competent in the design of corner pavilions and parades of shops, as can be seen in his work at North West Circus Place (see separate listing).

(List description revised in 2009 as part of re-survey.)

References

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