Description

John Watherston and Sons, 1855-6. Pair of asymmetrical 4-bay and basement terraced houses, with plain classical details and single storey slightly advanced pilastered and corniced entrance block to right; boundary wall adjacent to E. Sandstone ashlar, channelled at ground floor. Banded base course; corniced string course incorporating doorpiece at single storey block to E; corniced and cavetto eaves course. Moulded architraved doorpieces, rectangular fanlights, rising to pedimented 1st floor window. 2-storey, 3-light canted bays at basement, ground and 1st floors. Corniced and pedimented tripartite windows to right-hand house (No. 7) at ground and 1st storeys; corniced tripartite and bipartite windows at 2nd floor also to right. 4, 3rd floor windows to No. 8; 5 3rd floor windows to No. 7, some advanced cills will small aprons, shouldered architraves.

E ELEVATION: 4-storeys with corniced single storey advanced entrance block to left fronted by further additional lower porch. 2-storey canted bay right. Squared coursed rubble with ashlar quoins. Some ashlar lintels, cills and long and short rybats. Irregular fenestration with tripartite window at 1st floor to left.

Predominantly plate glass in timber sash and case windows; some 4-pane in timber sash and case to end (E) elevation. Double pitch M-section roof. Corniced ashlar ridge and gable end stacks with modern clay cans. Cast-iron railings on ashlar coping stone edging basement recess to street. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

BOUNDARY WALL: boundary wall to right enclosing garden from street; coursed squared rubble with ashlar copes.

Statement of Interest

Well-detailed classical townhouses designed by J Watherston and Sons showing a good use of plain classical detailing, and amongst the earliest of the later Victorian schemes. The canted bays are distinctive and are an important component of the streetscape.

The Watherston's practice built large parts of Edinburgh's West End speculatively, often conforming to the plans of the Walker and Heriot Trusts. The practice functioned as both architects and builders, and as well as their work in Edinburgh the firm also did country house work in the same way. The Watherston office was also responsible for the design of Nos. 17 and 18 Rothesay Place (see separate listing) which illustrates the variety of sources which they drew upon in their designs.

Both No. 7 and No. 8 now form part of a flatted development which incorporates most of the terrace (2008).

(List description revised 2009 as part of re-survey.)

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17806453

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

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)