Description

Henry Hardy (of Smith and Hardy Partners). 1861. 3-storey and attic, tenement block fronting George IV Bridge with shops to ground, dropping 7-storeys to Cowgate and Merchant Street to rear. Polished ashlar. Stop-moulded arrises. Cornice and blocking course. Broad, shouldered wall-head gables to N and S elevations; round-arched window to centre with flanking stacks incorporated into wall-head, bracketed beneath cornice.. Commercial premises to ground floor to Cowgate and Merchant Street.

Predominantly 4-paned glazing to timber sash and case windows with horns. Slate roof. End and rear wall-head stacks. Coped skews and

Statement of Interest

This three-storey ashlar Classical tenement block provides the E side of the lower end of George IV Bridge with a unified, planned run, acting as a foil to the more elaborate buildings that flank this important streetscape. A further similar block by the well-known architectural practice of Smith and Hardy flanks the Augustine Bristo Church (see separate listing) to the S. Nos 46-55 George IV Bridge uses simple classical detailing to achieve its effect. The shouldered gable at the N end is of particular note, providing an eyecatching terminus to the block, before it falls 7-storeys to the Cowgate below. The 'Buildings of Scotland - Edinburgh' makes reference to the 'Old Flemish' influence of the moulded arrises. George Smith and Henry Hardy were architects to the Edinburgh Improvement Commissioners. Nos 46-55 George IV Bridge are part of a unified run that continues at Nos 31-39 (see separate listing - HBNUM 28892) although interspersed with the St Augustine's Church (see separate listing).

List description updated at resurvey (2007/08).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56631911

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

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