Description

Robert Reid and William Sibbald, 1814-23. 3-storey and basement, 59 bay (9-bay central pavilion, flanked by 18-bay blocks, flanked in turn by 7-bay terminal pavilions) classical palace block terrace, with 3-storey, attic and basement central and terminal pavilions; double main door tenements to central and terminal pavilions, single houses in between. Sandstone ashlar principal elevation, with V-jointed rustication to principal floor, broached ashlar to upper floors, rock faced rustication to basement. Continual cornice, returned and terminated at corners; blocking course to central and terminal pavilions, with wallhead panels at centre; cill course to 1st and 2nd floors. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversailing basement. Mews in South West Cumberland Street Lane to rear, see below.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, CENTRAL PAVILION: 9-bay, comprising advanced 3-bay centrepiece with Ionic pilasters between bays at 1st and 2nd floors; bays to outer left and right advanced, flanked by Ionic pilasters at 1st and 2nd floors. Blind balustraded aprons to centrepiece and bays to outer left and right at 1st floor. Windows in round-arched panels at ground. Flush panelled doors flanking central bay, and in bays to outer left and right, with semicircular fanlights, plate glass to centre and left, radial to right. Central and outer windows at 1st floor pedimented with consoles; windows flanking centre corniced with consoles. Balcony spanning 3 bays to outer right, at 1st floor. Semicircular window centred at attic, with some window guards in windows flanking. Flagged basement area, with rubble walls and predominantly vertically board timber doors to cellars.

BLOCKS FLANKING CENTRAL PAVILION: 2 linking blocks of 6 3-bay houses, mirrored to either side of central pavilion. Flush panelled doors with variety of rectangular fanlights; to E of central pavilion with door in bay to left at ground, with door in bay to right of ground, to W of central pavilion; multi-pane glazed timber door at No 58. Regular fenestration to floors above, with some window guards at 2nd floor. Decorative cast-iron balconies in each bay at 1st floor to No 56 and No 60; balcony spanning 3 bays at 1st floor to No 58. Flagged basement area with predominantly vertically boarded timber doors to cellars. Small glazed modern dormers to No 58.

TERMINAL PAVILIONS: 7-bay near-mirrored pair of pavilions, each comprising 3-bay centrepiece with Ionic pilasters dividing bays at 1st and 2nd floors; blind balustraded aprons at 1st floor; windows pedimented with consoles in centre bay in 1st floor, corniced with consoles in flanking bays; flush panelled doors with plate glass and radial semicircular fanlights; Ionic pilasters flanking central 3 bays at 1st and 2nd floors. Terminal pavilion to left comprising common stair door centred at principal floor, flanked by doors in bays to left and right. Regular fenestration, with painted blind windows in penultimate bays to left, and in bay to left of semicircular window centred at attic. Terminal pavilion to right comprising common stair door centred at principal floor, flanked by doors to left and right.

ST VINCENT STREET RETURN TO W TERMINAL PAVILION: 6-bay block, becoming 2 and 2A St Vincent Street.

DUNDAS STREET RETURN TO E TERMINAL PAVILION: 6-bay block, becoming 52 and 54 Dundas Street (formerly 2 and 2A Pitt Street); comprising regular fenestration, with blind windows in penultimate bays to left and outer left bays, and in 3rd bay from right at 3rd floor and attic. Shop front at basement, with modern glazed door/gun stock door in 3rd bay from right. Wallhead stack to left of centre.

Predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows, with some plate glass and 4-pane. Grey slate M-roof. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Predominantly broached ashlar stacks including several restored stacks, some rendered; coped with circular cans. Ashlar skew copes.

INTERIORS: not seen (1997), but working panel shutters evident.

RAILINGS AND LAMPS: ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with spear-headed balusters and urn finials. Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.

MEWS:

SOUTH WEST CUMBERLAND STREET LANE: earlier 19th century. Predominantly 2-storey 3-bay mews buildings. Coursed rubble, with stone lintels, long and short quoins.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, NO 1: comprising pair of modern garage doors, and door to right, at ground; plate glass casement windows at 1st floor. Much altered rendered mews building adjoining to right.

NO 12: 2-leaf vertically-boarded timber garage doors in former cart opening to right at ground; modern glazed door to left at ground; single window to left of centre at 1st floor.

NO 14: vertically-boarded timber door with plate glass fanlight to left of centre at ground; window to left, converted window in former carriage opening, with relieving arch still visible, to right at ground; single window to left of centre at 1st floor.

WALLS: coped random rubble walls, with boarded doors in pedestrian gates; carriage gates between Nos 12 and 14.

Predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roofs. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Ashlar and rendered gablehead stacks; coped, with circular cans. Coped skews.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

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Source: Historic Environment Scotland