Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

John Webster, (designed MacGibbon & Ross), 1883-4. Prominent 4-storey and basement, irregular 4-bay corner tenement with full height canted bay to N (St Bernard's Crescent) elevation. Sandstone ashlar, channelled at ground floor. Entrance platts oversailing basement area recess. Banded base course; band course at 1st floor; banded cill course at 2nd floor; corniced eaves course. Inset doorways with boarded timber doors and rectangular fanlights.

N (ST. BERNARD'S CRESCENT) ELEVATION: roughly 4 bays. Bi-partite windows to outer left with broad stone mullions. Full-height 3-light canted bay to outer right, flanking pier with blind panel between 2nd and 3rd floors.

W (DANUBE STREET) ELEVATION: roughly 4-bay, slightly angled; pier to outer left with carved panel at 3rd floor to left with initial 'JW'. Bi-partite windows to outer right with broad stone mullions.

SE (REAR) ELEVATION: coursed rubble with tooled ashlar rybats, lintels and cills. Roughly regular fenestration.

Plate glass in timber sash and case windows. Double-pitched roof; grey slates. Corniced ashlar wallhead stacks with later corniced and harled section above; some clay cans. Cast-iron railings edging basement area recess to street; incorporating some decorative cast-iron lamp standards with large bowl shades.

INTERIOR: (selection of interiors seen 2010) classical decorative scheme, characterised by well detailed cornicing to principal rooms and hallway. Some marble fireplaces. Working window shutters. Later conversion to flats, including some later subdivision.

Statement of Special Interest

12 St Bernard's Crescent is a prominent corner block forming a later addition to an outstanding example of early nineteenth century urban planning. The block responds to the surrounding layout of the crescent, which was designed by James Milne in 1824, with a simple design using plain classical details such as the band courses and banded ashlar at the ground floor. The terrace was designed as a key part of the development of the land of Sir Henry Raeburn. The east corner of Danube Street and St Bernard's Crescent was originally intended to include a corner pavilion similar to that on the western side of the street (see separate listing), but it remained a gap site until the development of this block by John Webster. This building is an integral part of Edinburgh's New Town, which is an outstanding example of classical urban planning that was influential throughout Britain and Europe.

Henry Raeburn was born in Stockbridge and acquired the house and grounds of Deanhaugh through marriage, before adding adjacent land at St Bernard's. He occupied St Bernard's House until his death in 1823 when it was demolished to accommodate the growing residential development of the estate, making space for the eastern side of Carlton Street. James Milne is likely to have been involved in designs for a number of the streets, including Ann Street (see separate listing) and the development is characterised by his use of simple classical detailing and Greek sources for his designs.

Little is known about John Webster who is recorded as both an architect and builder in the RIBA directories, with this building one of only three of his known works in Scotland.

(List description updated and category changed from B to C(S) at re-survey 2012).

References

Bibliography

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.