Description

Circa 1875. Curved retaining wall to falling ground at N of Jeffrey Street, with round-arched vaults beneath (to East Market Street) diminishing in size from E to W with fall of street. Abuts tenement at E end. Ashlar-coped squared and snecked rock-cut sandstone; rusticated voussoirs to vaults. Moulded string course to E. Cast-iron railings, bowed stays and finials to recessed section to W. Corniced octagonal sandstone terminal pier to W end (possibly previously lamp standard), topped by modern wrought-iron flower. Boarded timber doors to vaults; brick infill with louvred openings to arches to E, some fretted ventilation panels to W.

Statement of Interest

Jeffrey Street was formed under the City Improvement Act of 1867. The building of Jeffrey Street necessitated the demolition of many old houses at the top of the former Leith Wynd and in the closes to SW. Below the street was the site of Trinity College Church, founded by Mary of Gueldres in 1460 and demolished by the North British Railway Company to make way for the railway line into Waverley Station (partially rebuilt in Chalmers Close by John Lessels in 1872), and of the original Physic Garden. The original intention was to continue the building line on the NE side of the street, but after a public outcry (see Cockburn Society minute, and letter from the RSA [secretary J Dick Peddie], pointing to the deleterious effect 'not merely on the amenity of Jeffrey Street,' but also on the views approaching the city by rail from the S, from Waterloo Place and from the North Bridge) it was decided not to build on the N side of the street, and the site was ceded to the North British Railway Company by the Town Council and the Improvement Trust on condition that any building on the site 'shall not exceed in height the finished level of the carriageway of Jeffrey Street.'

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77778862

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

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings