Herbarium (Old), Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

The Old Herbarium at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh is a single-storey and basement assembly hall built between 1842 and 1843 by David Cousin. It features a five-bay Picturesque cottage style with very deep eaves supported by ornamental brackets. The central bay is advanced and includes a two-leaf timber panelled door, a window above, and decorative bargeboards. There are small wings with corniced wallhead stacks on the outer right and left.

The building is constructed from squared coursed sandstone with droved ashlar dressings on the principal elevation and sides, while the rear is made of random rubble. It has long and short ashlar quoins and slightly raised margins around the windows and doors. The principal elevation is regularly fenestrated with tall windows, and there are basement windows below. The rear features an irregular arrangement of doors and windows.

The windows are timber sash and case, with border-glazed windows on the principal elevation and 4-pane glazing at the rear. The roof is covered with graded grey slate.

Inside, the main hall has a depressed-arch coffered ceiling adorned with decorative trusses, corbels, and bosses.