Description

Mid 19th century. 2-storey symmetrical 9-bay rectangular-plan classical terrace of 3 houses. Polished sandstone ashlar, channelled at ground; rubble to sides and rear. Base course; dividing band course; cornice; blocking course. Additional storey to No 40. Lugged architraves to 1st floor windows, plain architraves to attic storey windows.

NE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: advanced bays flanking No 40; doorcases consisting of entablatures supported by Greek Doric columns in front of single pilasters in central bay and the 2 advanced bays; single windows to 1st floor above and to both floors of all bays; 3 smaller windows to attic storey. Single storey corniced wings linking to adjoining properties on both sides contain pedestrian doorways.

Predominantly 4-pane timber sash and case windows. Grey slate piended roof; corniced wallhead stacks; flat roof to attic storey with 2 pairs of corniced wallhead stacks. Small sections of iron railings lead up to each of the doorcases.

INTERIOR: not seen 1996.

BOUNDARY WALLS: low coped boundary walls, mutual and to street.

Statement of Interest

The only block of 3 houses in the area, it has a different disposition of doorcases. Dr Benjamin Bell of Hunthill, an eminent Edinburgh surgeon and farmer, speculated on the potential for development in the lands of Newington. In 1806, aware of the demand for countrified dwellings near the city, he advertised his intention to sell 58 plots of land within his 8.5 acres. On his death in the same year his son George Bell, also a surgeon, inherited the land and, in 1825, commissioned James Gillespie Graham to design a plan for new streets within the grounds of Newington House, bounded by the back garden walls of Minto Street, Salisbury Road, East Mayfield and Dalkeith Road. Feus were offered for sale and Blacket Place began to take shape, the houses possibly being built speculatively by one builder or building company. Security was an important feature of the development, with Gothic gates, the octagonal piers of which survive, locked at night and single storey lodges at the entrances from Minto Street and Dalkeith Road.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17793394

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair