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Latitude: 55.9537 / 55°57'13"N
Longitude: -3.1988 / 3°11'55"W
OS Eastings: 325239
OS Northings: 674051
OS Grid: NT252740
Mapcode National: GBR 8MF.J8
Mapcode Global: WH6SL.TMX6
Plus Code: 9C7RXR32+FF
Entry Name: Norwich Union Insurance Societies, 49 George Street, Edinburgh
Listing Name: 49-55 (Odd Nos) George Street
Listing Date: 13 January 1966
Category: B
Source: Historic Scotland
Source ID: 367442
Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB28838
Building Class: Cultural
Also known as: Edinburgh, 49 George Street, Norwich Union Insurance Societies
ID on this website: 200367442
Circa 1775; subsequent considerable alterations, G Beattie & Sons, 1877; J Kinross and J Inch Morrison, 1921. 3-storey and attic 11-bay former classical tenement. Droved cream sandstone ashlar.
No 49: built out front by John Kinross and J Inch Morrison, 1921. 3-bay block with pared down Greek Doric 2-storey front. Polished ashlar additions; 2nd floor stonecleaned. Rusticated at ground with multi-pane canted glazing and 2-leaf doors to left; 1st floor plinth with Greek key frieze; metal glazing set back between square columns decorative cast-iron balustrading in front; stylised triglyph frieze and heavy cornice. 3 flagpoles. Original 2nd floor with eaves cornice. Single piend-roofed canted 20th century dormer (pair to that at No 51, see below).
3-storey on raised basement dressed stone rear elevation with tripartite window at centre to each floor.
Timber and metal casements to addition; 12-pane timber sash and case at 2nd floor. Enlarged rendered stack to E; grey slates.
Interior: good inter-war classical interior decorative scheme with open dog-leg stair across centre and top-lit banking hall to rear, with compartmented ceiling.
No 51: refaced and slightly built out front by George Beattie & Sons, 1877. 3-bay block with Renaissance detailed 2-storey front. Polished ashlar additions. At ground, large segmental-pedimented doorpiece to left and 3-bay arcaded window to right with small Corinthian pilasters; lugged architraves at 1st floor, with consoled cornice above. Original 2nd floor with eaves cornice. Single piend-roofed canted dormer (pair to that at No 49, see above).
Irregular 3-storey on raised basement 5-bay coursed rubble rear elevation (extends behind Nos 53-5) with arched openings at ground, loading doors and flying link with Nos 54-8 Thistle Street (see separate listing).
Timber sash and case windows; plate glass to new front, 12-pane at 2nd floor. Ashlar coped skew and stone stack to W; grey slates.
Interior: front block remodelled later 19th century; 2 plain top-lit auction rooms to rear, that to E of considerable historic interest (see Notes).
Nos 53-55: 5-bay. 2 modernised shops built out at ground; that to right retaining later 19th century consoles and cornice and incorporating access to common stair door to right. Pair of late 19th century canted piend-roofed dormers, and further bipartite dormer above common stair bay.
Timber sash and case plate glass and 12-pane windows. Ashlar coped skews; stone stacks (removed to W); grey slates.
No 51 was first adapted for William Nicholson, a miniatures painter, who, together with Dr Hay, established a picture gallery to the rear of the building. This was probably designed by Thomas Hamilton, together with a new plastered shopfront at ground floor, and survives largely untouched to this day. It is a very significant survival, still retaining its boarded walls and picture rail, and finished much as the National Gallery was when it was first completed. Lyon and Turnbull have been here since the late 19th century, having been founded in 1825 by Jonathan Lyon. Beattie may have adapted No 51 for them. Until 1864 Lyon had been in partnership with Dowell, who established his own firm a couple of doors along George Street at No 65, and continues today as Phillips. Lyon and Turnbull have very considerable stores to Thistle Street Lane (see separate listing) and the rear elevation of this property to NW Thistle Street Lane is of the 1820s and of considerable interest, although it has been much altered over the years. 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 33-63 (odd nos) George Street.
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.
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