Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 William Street, EdinburghLB29932

Status: Designated

Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Category
B
Date Added
14/12/1970
Last Date Amended
08/02/2018
Local Authority
Edinburgh
Planning Authority
Edinburgh
Burgh
Edinburgh
NGR
NT 24305 73515
Coordinates
324305, 673515

Description

Probably Robert Brown, 1824-5. Extensive 3-storey and basement, plain classical commercial terrace with earlier 19th century shop premises ground floor. Sandstone ashlar, droved to basement and smooth to 1st and 2nd floors. Entrance platts oversailing basement. Band course between ground and 1st floor. Corniced eaves course. Some blind windows, irregularly spaced. Painted shop fascias. The south (rear) elevation is roughly squared rubble with droved ashlar dressings and irregular fenestration.

Large plate glass and fixed 12-pane timber windows to earlier 19th century shop fronts. 12-pane timber sash and case windows at 1st and 2nd floors and to rear. Corniced ashlar gable end and ridge chimney stacks with modern clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Cast-iron railings with fleur-de-lys finials to basement recess.

Statement of Special Interest

Part of an important planned grouping of late Georgian shops and tenements. The earlier 19th century shop front configuration is largely retained. William Street was planned as a service street, similar to Rose Street in the first New Town. These streets provided accommodation for artisans and tradesmen. It was essential to have 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 is 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. The cohesive planning of the Walker estate is amongst the best examples of his work. By the time Robert Brown was involved with the Walker Estate he had already designed several other urban schemes including, between 1810 and 1830, the laying out of streets in Portobello on land belonging to the Marquess of Abercorn. 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 Marquess of Tweeddale. He also worked on a number of smaller projects in the New Town, and was especially competent in the design of corner pavilions and parades of shops as seen in his work at North West Circus Place (see separate listing).

List description revised in 2009. Statutory address changed to '28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 William Street, Edinburgh' in 2018. Previously listed as '28, 30, 32, 24, 36, 38 William Street'.

References

Bibliography

Ordnance Survey (Surveyed 1852, Published 1853) Large Scale Town Plan of Edinburgh, 1st Edition, 5 feet to 1 mile. Ordnance Survey: Southampton.

Gifford J, McWilliam C and Walker D.M (1988) The Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh, London: Penguin Books Ltd, p.381.

Youngson A.J (2002) The Making of Classical Edinburgh, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, p.215.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 28/03/2024 21:35