27 Rutland Street, Edinburgh

This is a substantial 3-storey and attic building with a basement, dating to circa 1830-1840 and designed by John Tait. It occupies a corner position at the southwest end of Rutland Street in Edinburgh, adjoining numbers 30 and 31 Rutland Square. The building forms a corner pavilion block and contributes significantly to the group value of the area.

The exterior is constructed of droved sandstone ashlar at basement level, with polished sandstone above. Polished dressings are used throughout. A band course separates the basement from the ground floor, while banded cill courses are present at the first and second floors. A string course runs below a dentil cornice, and the central three bays feature a corniced and pilastered attic storey. Moulded architraves frame the ground floor openings. Ashlar steps with oversailing platts provide access to the basement.

The southwest (Rutland Square) elevation features a segmental-arched basement doorway with a replacement timber door and fanlight, alongside windows in each bay. A consoled and corniced doorpiece is located on the ground floor, framing a deep-set timber panelled door with a large, 2-pane rectangular fanlight. Upper floors have windows in each bay, including the three-bay attic.

The southeast (Rutland Street) elevation is five bays wide, with the central three bays slightly advanced. The central basement bay originally contained a doorway, which has been altered to form a window. Windows are present in each bay to the left and right, although some are blocked. The ground floor features a consoled and corniced doorpiece with a timber panelled door and geometric fanlight. Windows are found in the flanking bays and throughout the upper floors, with some bays having blocked windows.

The northwest and northeast elevations are largely obscured by adjacent buildings.

The windows are primarily 12-, 15-, and 2-pane timber sash and case windows. A grey slate piended roof tops the building, with a tall, coped, rendered multi-flue stack on the northeast wallhead. Pilasters flanking the southeast dormer serve as stacks, and tall cylindrical cans are also present. Cast-iron rainwater goods are in evidence.

To the streetscape, cast-iron spear-headed railings are set on an ashlar cope, with plain railings leading to the door. A cast-iron railing-mounted lamp standard with a glass globe is situated on the southwest (Rutland Square) elevation.