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Summary

Description

Built by Claud Cleghorn, 1786-8; reconstructed and united by Rowand Anderson, Kininmonth & Paul, 1971-3. Former 3-storey basement and attic, 7-bay pair of houses with flats above; now single office. Droved cream sandstone ashlar (stonecleaned). Slightly recessed centre bay (formerly common stair, door replaced by window at ground); 3 left bays reinstated at ground, as windows. 3 right bays broader; inner bay with Ionic columned doorpiece set in segmental arch with modern timber radiating fanlight, 2-leaf panelled door; model lighthouse at 1st floor window. Mutuled eaves cornice. 4 matching pilastered tripartite box dormers.

Modern extended rear elevation to E; original rubble to W, with full-height bow.

Timber sash and case 12-pane windows; grey slates.

INTERIOR: elegant internal timber porch leads to broad cross-vaulted Entrance Hall with Ionic columned screen to left (formerly lead to stair); plaster swags contain, on S wall painting of lighthouse, on W wall plaster tableau. Double bow-ended room on axis (former Dining Room) with fluted Ionic Screen; former Drawing Room at front with fine neo-classical carved and gesso chimneypiece; room to SW subdivided but with similar chimneypiece remaining. Relatively plain 1st floor and 2nd floors, latter with former Dining Room of flat to SW with fluted pilastered sideboard recess and further fine carved and gesso chimneypiece. Good quality modern offices to E with brick and stone stair enclosing lift.

RAILINGS: modern cast-iron railings.

Statement of Special Interest

Now the home of the Northern Lighthouse Board, from where all Scotland's lighthouses are controlled and monitored. The Board was founded in 1786, and moved to 84 George Street in 1832. It is not clear whether this house was built with a stair to the 1st floor, or acquired one; the number of fine rooms on the ground floor suggest the latter situation. The Lighthouse Board acquired No 82 from the Co-op in 1967; there was formerly a shopfront but in 1971 the 4 E bays were totally demolished and the facade re-erected with the shop expunged. This modern block is fully linked with No 84, and provides its stair and boardroom. It extends to the rear as an L-plan, enclosing top-lit basement workshops, with access to Rose Street North Lane. Listed at Category A as a significant surviving part of the original fabric of Edinburgh's New Town, one of the most important and best preserved examples of urban planning in Britain. A Group with Nos 30-60 (even nos) George Street.

References

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