Description

James Gillespie Graham, designed 1822. Near-symmetrical classical palace block, comprising advanced 3-storey and basement, 9-bay central pavilion, with central 3 bays advanced again, flanked by 2 pairs of predominantly 3-storey and basement, 3-bay houses, flanked in turn by pair of 4-storey and basement, 4-bay terminal pavilions. Polished ashlar sandstone; channelled V-jointed rustication at principal floor. Base course; band course between basement and principal floor; corniced frieze at impost level at terminal pavilions; cill courses at 1st and 2nd floors; cornice at 2nd floor of linking blocks; corniced frieze at 2nd floor of terminal pavilions; cornice and blocking course at 2nd floor of linking blocks; cornice and blocking course at 3rd floor of terminal pavilions. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversailing basement.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, CENTRAL PAVILION: advanced 9-bay central pavilion, with central 3 bays advanced again, comprising 4-panel timber door with plate glass semicircular fanlight in bay to right of centre (No 6), and in 3rd bays from outer left and right, No 5 with radial semicircular fanlight. Windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above, with 4 windows at 2nd floor of central 3 bays. Flagged basement area.

S ELEVATION, LINKING TERRACES: 2 pairs of 3-bay houses flanking central pavilion, all raised to 3-storey and basement, except No 4. 4-panel timber doors in bays to left at Nos 3, 8 and 9, and in bay to right at No 4. Plate glass semicircular fanlight to Nos 3 and 4, radial semicircular fanlight to Nos 8 and 9. Windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above. Flagged basement area.

E TERMINAL PAVILION: on corner site, comprising 5-bay bowed angle, flanked by pair of advanced pavilions; 4-bay pavilion to W (1 and 2 St Colme Street), 3-bay pavilion to N (2 Forres Street, see separate listing). Semi-engaged Doric columns flanking central 3-bays of bowed angle, Doric pilasters at outer left and right; Doric pilasters flanking bays at 1st and 2nd floors of advanced pavilion with E elevation, with panelled pilasters flanking bays at 3rd floor. Advanced pavilion with S elevation comprising 2-leaf timber door with radial semicircular fanlight in bay to right of centre at principal floor; infilled former door with radial semicircular fanlight in bay to outer right, windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above; architraved windows with cornices at 1st floor, architraved windows at 2nd and 3rd floors. Flagged basement area.

W TERMINAL PAVILION: 4-bay, comprising 4-panel timber door with plate-glass semicircular fanlight, in bay to left of centre; windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above, architraved windows with cornices at 1st floor, architraved windows at 2nd floor. Flagged basement area.

SW RETURN TO W TERMINAL PAVILION: advanced 4-bay elevation, Doric pilasters flanking bays at 1st and 2nd floors, panelled pilasters flanking bays at 3rd floor. 4-panel timber door with plate-glass semicircular fanlight, in bay to right of centre at principal floor; windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above. Flagged basement area.

AINSLIE PLACE RETURN TO W TERMINAL PAVILION: 4-bay, becoming 21 Ainslie Place (see separate listing).

Variety of timber sash and case windows. Cast-iron balconies spanning 3 bays at 1st floors of Nos 1-8 inclusively, and at 2 Forres Street. Grey slate M-roofs and pavilion roof; pair of box dormers at No 4. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Variety of broached ashlar and rendered ridge and wallhead stacks, some with cornices; coped, with circular cans.

INTERIORS: not seen, 1998; evidence of working panelled shutters.

RAILINGS: ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railing with fleur-de-lis and other decorative finials.

Statement of Interest

Part of the Edinburgh New Town A Group, a significant surviving part of one of the most important and best preserved examples of urban planning in Britain. The Moray Estate was designed for the 10th Earl of Moray (1771-1848). He inherited the 13 acre site from his father, after it was acquired from the Heriot Trust in 1782, and decided to feu the property for development in 1822. The complicated plan, with the crescent, oval and polygon of Randolph Crescent, Ainslie Place and Moray Place respectively, conjoins the New Town with the Second New Town. Building was completed in 1830-31.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17568334

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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