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Summary

Description

John Chesser, 1874. 3-storey and basement terrace of classical townhouses in Free Renaissance style with advanced terminal bays and prominent 2-storey 3-light balustraded bays, bowed at ground floor, canted at 1st floor. Corniced ashlar attic storey to Nos. 5 -7. Sandstone ashlar; droved at basement. Entrance platts oversailing basement. Banded base course; moulded cill courses at 1st and 2nd floors. Corniced consoled eaves course with balustrade above to advanced terminal bays, integrated with semicircular and triangular pedimented sandstone ashlar dormers. Large doorpieces with paired foliate console brackets flanking narrow architraved sidelights. Rectangular fanlights above timber 6-panel doors; cornice and balustrade over. Moulded architraved windows to bowed bay at ground and 1st floors; bowed balustrade at 1st floor cill course. Moulded architraved 1st floor window, bracketed with round arched pediment. Moulded architraved windows at 2nd floor (tripartite above canted bay) with bracketed cills. Moulded architraved surrounds at attic storey and dormers.

W (END) ELEVATION: 3 bays. Set on ground falling away to N. Advanced balustraded bay to centre, rectangular at ground floor, canted at 1st floor. Moulded cill courses at 1st and 2nd floors; corniced consoled eaves course with balustrade above (integrated with prominent wallhead stacks). Blind windows to flanking bays. Moulded architraved windows, bracketed at 1st floor with round arched pediments. Tripartite window to centre at 2nd floor flanked by 2 blind windows all with bracketed cills.

N (REAR) ELEVATION: 5 storeys. Coursed squared sandstone rubble with some ashlar quoins cills and rybats. Roughly regular fenestration with some oval windows. Prominent 3-storey 3-light canted bays. Later rectangular dormer to right (E).

BOUNDARY WALLS: boundary walls to rear, sandstone ashlar with moulded copes.

Plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Pitched roof; grey slates. Corniced ashlar gable end and ridge stacks; modern clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Cast-iron railings edging basement area to street.

INTERIOR: characterised by highly decorative classical scheme with intricate cornices. Large entrance vestibules with deep cornice and tiled floors, predominantly dog-leg stairs, topped by large cupolas with decorative plasterwork. Highly decorative plasterwork and some large marble fire surrounds to ground and 1st floor drawing rooms. Interiors of Nos. 5 -7 inspected 2008 with some compartmented ceilings and Corinthian columned entrance halls. Later conversion to flats throughout terrace.

Statement of Special Interest

Learmonth Terrace is a prominent and boldly detailed classical crescent and makes a significant contribution to the streetscape with bold use of architectural features such as canted bays. Each section of the terrace is terminated by slightly advanced terminal bays. The terrace is part of the continued development of the West End of Edinburgh in the later 19th century after the completion of the nearby Dean Bridge (see separate listing).

The terrace was built by John Chesser for Colonel Learmonth as part of his wider development of lands in this area. Learmonth had played a major part in the funding of the nearby Dean Bridge (see separate listing). The construction of the bridge placed his land on what became a main thoroughfare into and out of the City of Edinburgh and made his developments much more valuable. Learmonth was also the Lord Provost of Edinburgh during this period. Unlike the earlier phases of the New Town the terraces of the Dean estate were exclusively of individual affluent family houses with lavish Victorian detailing. Changing social circumstances in the 20th century have led to a degree of alteration and adaptation.

John Chesser began his career as a master of works on the Ravesby Estate in Lincolnshire, before replacing his father in the same post on the Dalmeny estate. By 1852 he was working for David Cousin in the office of the superintendant of works in Edinburgh, and through this office he may have secured his post as superintendant of works for Heriot's Hospital. By the time he came to design Learmonth Terrace his free Renaissance style was fully developed. Many of his terraces are characterised by the use of large bay windows, and particularly by the combination of rectangular and canted storeys.

List description revised as part of resurvey (2009).

References

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