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Summary

Description

Robert Reid and William Sibbald, 1804, with design alterations by Thomas Bonnar, 1817-18. 31-bay classical palace block terrace, comprising 4-storey and basement, 5-bay central pavilion; mirrored pair of 4-storey and basement 10-bay linking blocks. Polished ashlar sandstone; V-jointed rustication at principal floor; rock-faced rustication at basement. Base course at principal and 1st floors; cill course at 1st and 2nd floors; cornice and blocking course at 3rd floor of terminal pavilions. Corniced frieze at impost level to central and terminal pavilions. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversailing basement.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, CENTRAL PAVILION: 4-storey and basement, 6-bay central pavilion; comprising recessed doorpieces with radial semicircular fanlights, in centre bay and penultimate bay from right, at principal floor. Windows in round-arched recesses to left of centre and outer left and right, at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above, and to basement. Ionic pilasters dividing bays at 1st and 2nd floors. Blind balustered aprons to 1st floor windows (balusters now removed, 1997). Panelled pilasters between bays at 3rd floor. Flagged basement area, with rubble walls and predominantly vertically boarded timber doors to cellars.

BLOCKS LINKING CENTRAL PAVILION: pair of 3-storey and basement, 10-bay linking blocks; comprising pairs of windows with doors in bays between, radiating from central pavilion, with single windows to outer left and right, at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above, and to basement. Metal plaque to No 25, reading 'Sidney Goodsir Smith. 1915-1975. Poet, Artist, Wit. Lived here'. Flagged basement area, with rubble walls and predominantly vertically boarded timber doors to cellars.

TERMINAL PAVILIONS: mirrored pair of 4-storey and basement, 3-bay terminal pavilions, comprising windows in round-arched recesses at centre and outer left and right at principal floor; windows pedimented with consoles in centre bay at 1st floor; corniced with consoles in flanking bays. Regular fenestration to floors above, and to basement; lunette windows centred at 3rd floors. Central wallhead tablets with swag decoration. Blind balustered aprons to 1st floor windows. Flagged basement area with rubble walls and predominantly vertically boarded timber doors to cellars.

SCOTLAND STREET RETURN TO E TERMINAL PAVILION: 4-storey and basement, 6-bay elevation, becoming Nos 2 and 2 A-D Scotland Street; comprising common stair door in bay to left of centre, flanked by blind windows to left and windows to right; regular fenestration to floors above, with blind windows in bay to outer left and penultimate bay from left. Former shop fronts flanking entrance steps at basement. N elevation obscured by adjoining terrace, Nos 4 and 6 Scotland Street (see separate listing).

DUNDONALD STREET RETURN TO W TERMINAL PAVILION: 4-storey and basement, 4-bay near-symmetrical W elevation becoming Nos 2-6 (even Nos) Dundonald Street; comprising common stair door in penultimate bay from right, at principal floor; 6-panel flush-beaded timber door with radial rectangular fanlight; ashlar steps and entrance platts oversailing basement; shallow arches supporting plats oversailing sub-basement; half-turn stairs to outer left and right accessing sub-basement; fore-stair rising to principal floor in bay to right of centre. Windows in bays to outer left and penultimate bay to left; regular fenestration to floors above, with blind windows in bay to outer right, at all floors. Shop fronts flanking entrance steps at basement. N elevation obscured by adjoining terrace, Nos 8-10 (even Nos) Dundonald Street (see separate listing).

Predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows, with some plate-glass sash and case windows. Predominantly 6-panel flush-beaded doors to basement. Grey slate M-roof. Bipartite box dormer over bay to outer left of W linking block. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Variety of broached ashlar and harled ridge stacks; large shouldered wallhead stack at left of centre to Scotland Street return; large shouldered wallhead stack to right of centre at Dundonald Street return; coped with circular cans.

INTERIORS: not seen, 1997, but some evidence of working panelled shutters. Pendentive entrance halls to Nos 17-18 and 22-23, the latter with Doric columns and reliefs with classical figures; pilasters and coffered ceilings to entrance halls at Nos 28-29.

RAILINGS AND LAMPS: ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with spear-headed balusters and urn finials, pineapple finial to No 28. Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.

Statement of Special Interest

Part of the Second New Town A Group, covering a significant surviving part of one of the most important and best preserved examples of urban planning in Britain.

Drummond Place feued by the magistrates was part of the 1st extension of the New Town planned by Reid and Sibbald in 1802. The elevations, designed by Robert Reid, were partly revised for execution by Thomas Bonnar in 1817-18. Building in Drummond Place had started in 1806 but only the Dublin Street corner was built, and did not start again until after the Bonnar revision. At first Thomas Pringle and Thomas Caldwell builders took most of the feus, but sections of it were relinquished by other builders. It was finished in 1823. Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe lived at No 28. For mews to rear, see separate listing (West Scotland Street Lane).

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