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Summary

Description

Possibly Robert Kay (see Notes), circa 1790. Row comprising five x seven-bay sections of mostly three-storey and attic, four-storey, or four-storey and attic Classical tenements with shops to ground (some altered). Situated on steeply sloping ground and falling to six and seven storeys at rear (Niddry Street). Pedimented, seven-storey and attic gable end at south (Cowgate). Ashlar, rubble to rear. Band courses, raised cills, cornice. Piended and canted dormers. Some shopfronts to west (South Bridge) with fluted timber Ionic pilasters, timber stallrisers and fascias. Applied, moulded architraves to window openings at numbers 19-29.

East elevation (Niddry Street) with some round-arched openings to ground, occasional Venetian window to upper storeys. Some three-light pedimented wallhead dormers with gable stacks.

South elevation with round-arched windows to fourth storey; pediment with central lunette window. Some blank windows.

Predominantly plate glass and twelve-pane timber sash and case windows. Plate glass to ground. Grey Slates. Gable and wallhead stacks. Cast iron rainwater goods.

Statement of Special Interest

A Group with the South Bridge and Nos 4-13, 19-67 and 87-99 South Bridge and 9 and 10 Hunter Square and 107-108 South Bridge.

This row of simply detailed, late 18^th century tenements is an integral component of the important 18^th century planned streetscape of the South Bridge. The South Bridge was a major engineering feat, driven through and over one of the most populated sections of the city to provide a link between the expanding suburbs of the South side of the city and the High Street of the Old Town. The row contains a number of good quality shopfronts with carved timber detailing and these add significantly to the character of the streetscape of the bridge. The rear elevation to Niddry Street is particularly notable for its retention of original round-arched openings at ground level and for its occasional Venetian window. The height of the tenements is typical for the Old Town of Edinburgh. Originally three-storeys in height at the South Bridge elevation, and with every third block pedimented, some of the tenements had additional storeys added in the 19^th century. These have not detracted from the visually cohesive intention of the original scheme. All have floors below the South Bridge level, ranging from one to four storeys, as the valley deepens.

In 1753, the South Bridge Act made provision for the building of a bridge to form a link between the North Bridge (see separate listing) and the newly expanding South side of the city. A group of Trustees was set up to oversee the project. These trustees planned to have unified facades down both sides of the bridge and a number of architects, including Robert Adam, put forward plans. The Adam scheme was for a grand, fully colonnaded street and it was rejected because of the expense of the scheme. The Edinburgh architect Robert Kay proposed a simpler plan and the Trustees asked that he consult with two other Edinburgh architects, John Baxter and John Brown. The final design, which is thought to be a combination of the different designs from these architects, was for terraces of simple Classical facades, punctuated with pediments and with round-arched arcading at ground level and plain rectangular windows above.

The A Group recognises the importance of the South Bridge and its associated streetscape buildings as being an outstanding and significant scheme in late 18th century town planning.

List description revised as part of the Edinburgh Holyrood Ward resurvey 2007-8.

Statutory address and listed building record revised in 2024. Previously listed as '19-36 (Inclusive Nos) South Bridge, 29-57 (Inclusive Nos) Niddry Street And 212 Cowgate'.

References

Bibliography

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