Glasite Meeting House, 33 Barony Street, Edinburgh

Glasite Meeting House, 33 Barony Street, Edinburgh

Built in 1836 by Alexander Black, this Grade A building is a 2-storey, 5-bay asymmetrical rectangular-plan former ecclesiastical building. It is constructed in ashlar sandstone, with the principal floor of the principal elevation polished and the first floor broached. The building features a base course, corniced frieze at ground floor (returned and terminated at the east elevation), eaves course, and cornice and blocking course. Predominantly blind openings appear on the east and south elevations, with panelled aprons at the principal floor of the north elevation and projecting cills to the east and south elevations. Long and short quoins are present at the rear.

The principal (north) elevation comprises five bays with a 2-leaf 6-panel timber door with decorative rectangular fanlight in the penultimate bay at ground floor, a small 2-pane window with stone transom to the left, windows in the remaining bays at ground floor, and architraved windows in the bays at first floor.

The east (Albany Lane) elevation comprises five bays, with an advanced polished ashlar 2-bay return from the principal elevation to the right. A 2-leaf vertically-boarded timber door sits in the penultimate bay from the right at ground level, with a blind window to the right and blind windows aligned above at first floor. Three bays to the left comprise a blind tripartite segmental-arched window with droved details within, flanked by blind windows at ground floor.

The south (rear) elevation features a blind segmental-arched tripartite window flanked by windows at ground floor, and a pair of oculi at eaves level.

The windows are predominantly 15-pane timber sash and case windows. The roofs are Ballachulish and Easdale slate piended and octagonal piended, with Welsh and Spanish slate patching. A 16-pane skylight is present. Rainwater goods are lead, PVCu and cast-iron. Stacks are cement rendered with concrete copes and circular cans.

The interior contains a double-height rectangular Meeting Room to the rear at principal floor level. This room comprises panelled timber staged 2-tier and canopied pulpit by David Bryce, added in 1873, centred at the south wall with advanced pediment, consoles and acroteriae, flanked by steps with cast-iron railings. Panelled timber box pews are original to the space. A pair of 2-leaf flush-beaded timber doors opens to the north wall. A blocked and painted former fireplace is located in the southwest corner. Pilasters supporting elliptical arches with a pair of ventilating oculi windows in the spandrels were added to the south wall by James Dunn in 1890. An octagonal cupola is centred at the ceiling, fitted with clear and yellow-stained diamond leaded lights, some etched with decorative motifs. An earlier 20th century chandelier is present.

A stone flagged hall features vertically-boarded timber dado. A decorative timber panel surmounted by swan neck pediment bears painted text reading 'A Meeting House, commonly called Glasite or Sandemanian of the Church of Christ for Public Worship...'. Kitchen and offices occupy the former house keeper's rooms at principal floor level, including a former Elders' study with baize and panelled door.

Stone stairs with decorative cast-iron railings lead upwards, with the stair well dado level marked by a semicircular timber ridge. The principal first floor room, formerly the 'Feast Hall' (now called the McWilliam Room), comprises a blind arcaded wall to the west with a door in an arch to the left. Windows on the north wall are flanked by presses. The room features a geometric coffered ceiling and Greek-key pattern cornice. A pair of timber fireplaces with porphyry mantelpieces are present, and tables and benches original to the building remain. A dumb-waiter occupies a cupboard at the door.

Offices at first floor level formerly served as a visiting preachers' suite. Stone stairs descend to the basement, which has been modernised with WC facilities and a boiler room.

Later additions and alterations have been made throughout the building's history.