The Dower House, 1A Orchardfield Avenue, Corstorphine, Edinburgh

The Dower House, located at 1A Orchardfield Avenue in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, has an earlier core dating back to the 15th century, with significant alterations and additions made in the 17th and 18th centuries. This three-storey house with an attic is designed in a T plan and is situated in the northeast corner of St Margaret's Park. The northern, southern, and eastern elevations are finished with painted harl, while the western elevation features sandstone rubble. The building is accented with sandstone ashlar dressings and has crowstepped skews.

On the north elevation, which serves as the entrance, there is a roll-moulded corniced doorway in the advanced central bay, featuring a timber door and a blind plaque. Flanking this doorway are single stair windows at the ground, first floor, and attic levels. To the right, there is a recessed bay with single windows on all floors, and a small opening at the ground level in the bay to the left.

The south elevation consists of five bays, arranged in a 3-2 grouping. It features a roll-moulded doorway to the left of centre at ground level and a smaller roll-moulded doorway to the right of centre, along with a single boarded window at ground level to the left. The first and second floors have regular fenestration.

The east and west elevations are blank. The house has 12-pane timber sash and case windows and a grey slate roof, complete with corniced wallhead and apex stacks, as well as circular cans.

Inside, the Dower House contains 18th century timber and composition fireplaces, and some panelling remains despite extensive restoration work.

Surrounding the property are boundary walls made of rubble sandstone, which vary in height along Corstorphine High Street and Orchardfield Avenue, complemented by railings. The sandstone corniced gatepiers are topped with iron standards and stone ball finials, and there are iron gates.