Description

John Lessels and John Paterson, 1873. Imposing, 3-storey Classical former department store with advanced curved corner and altered shops to ground. Ashlar. Advanced 3-bay curved corner with flanking pilasters. Cill courses, string course, deep concave cornice, blocking course. Segmental- and round-arched window openings with moulded architraves; some keystoned. Some windows with consoled cornices and cills. Balustraded aprons to windows on 1st storey. Tripartite corner window with stone columned mullions.

Predominantly 9-and 12-pane over plate glass timber sash and case windows to 1st storey and plate glass timber sash and case windows to upper storey; some boarded windows. Plate glass to ground. Grey slates. Mansard roof with rooflights.

Statement of Interest

This is an imposing and well-detailed former department store, situated on an important junction in the city and with a prominent, carefully articulated corner bay. The keystoned architraves and balustraded aprons are fine decorative details and the building adds significant presence to the streetscape.

The building was originally known as University House and was the home of the department store John Adair & Co from 1878 until 1918. It did have dormer windows. Adair had been involved in the tailoring business in Edinburgh for many years previously and the building is likely to have been specially commissioned by them. Adair moved from the shop in 1918, and the Apex Shoe Company moved in. In the 1930s, the department store J & R Allan occupied the premises until the 1970s. Later the building became part of the University of Edinburgh and it is understood to be currently undergoing internal refurbishment (2007).

John Lessels (1809-1883) came from a family of builder-architects. He contributed much to the mid-late 19th century character of Edinburgh, particularly in his work with the City Improvement Trust.

John Paterson (1832-1877) was an Edinburgh architect.

List description revised as part of Edinburgh Holyrood Ward resurvey 2007-08.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56632205

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

• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide