Description

Possibly Robert Kay (see Notes), circa 1790. 3-storey and attic row of Classical tenements comprising 6 x 6-bay sections with shops to ground. Situated on steeply sloping site with further 3 basement storeys to Cowgate (N) and Niddry Street (E). Ashlar with coursed rubble to rear. Pedimented gables with lunettes to Infirmary Street and Cowgate. Band course, raised cills, cornice. Some round-arched openings to ground with 6-panel timber entrance doors and multi-pane glazed fanlights above.

Several shopfronts with timber fascias, fluted timber pilasters, decorative timber consoles and timber panelled stallrisers. Later dormers, box dormers, mansard and attic storeys. Raised architraves with consoled cornice to windows to N.

Predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Coped gable, wallhead and ridge stacks. Grey slates.

Statement of Interest

A Group with the South Bridge and Nos 4-13, 19-67 and 87-99 South Bridge and 9 and 10 Hunter Square and 107-108 South Bridge.

This row of tenements with its restrained, classical style and simple detailing is an integral component of the important 18th century planned streetscape of the South Bridge. The South Bridge was a major engineering feat, driven through and over one of the most populated sections of the city to provide a link between the expanding suburbs of the South side of the city and the High Street of the Old Town. The row contains a number of good quality shopfronts with carved timber detailing and they add significant character to the streetscape of the bridge. The Cowgate elevation is similar to the design of the opposite end bay of Nos 19-36 South Bridge (see separate listing) and together they provide strong, visual termination features for these 2 tenement rows.

The importance of the original planned terrace of tenement buildings lining the bridge is recognised in the B Group.

In 1753, the South Bridge Act made provision for the building of a bridge to form a link between the North Bridge (see separate listing) and the newly expanding South side of the city. A group of Trustees were set up to oversee the project. These trustees planned to have unified facades down both sides of the bridge and a number of architects, including Robert Adam, put forward plans. The Adam scheme was for a grand, fully colonnaded street and it was rejected because of the expense of the scheme. The Edinburgh architect Robert Kay proposed a simpler plan and the Trustees asked that he consult with 2 other Edinburgh architects, John Baxter and John Brown. The final designs, which are thought to be an combination of the different designs from these architects, were for terraces of simple Classical facades, punctuated with pediments and with round-arched arcading at ground level and plain rectangular windows above.

The A Group recognises the importance of the South Bridge and its associated streetscape buildings as being an outstanding and significant scheme in late 18th century town planning.

List description revised as part of the Edinburgh Holyrood Ward resurvey 2007-8.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56632201

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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