17 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh

James Gillespie Graham, designed 1822. 17-bay concave classical tenement, comprising 3-storey and basement, 9-bay linking terrace, flanked by pair of advanced 4-storey and basement, 4-bay terminal pavilions. Symmetrical terrace with curved frontage. Polished ashlar sandstone; V-jointed rustication at principal floor. Base course; corniced frieze at impost level at principal floor of terminal pavilions; cill course at 1st and 2nd floors of central terrace; cornice and blocking course at 2nd floor of central terrace, and 3rd floor of terminal pavilions. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversailing basement.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION, LINKING TERRACE: 3 3-bay houses, comprising panelled timber doors in bays to left; rectilinear rectangular fanlight at No 17, 2-pane rectangular fanlight at No 18, plate glass rectangular fanlight at No 19. Windows in remaining bays at principal floor, and to floors above. Architraved windows with cornices at 1st floor, architraved windows at 2nd floors. Flagged basement area.

TERMINAL PAVILIONS: pair of advanced 4-bay terminal pavilions. Doric pilasters flanking bays at 1st and 2nd floors, panelled pilasters flanking bays at 3rd floors. Panelled timber doors in bay to right of centre, with plate glass semicircular fanlights. Windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor; regular fenestration to floors above. Flagged basement area.

GREAT STUART STREET RETURN TO N ELEVATION: 4-bay, becoming 8 Great Stuart Street (see separate listing).

21A AINSLIE PLACE RETURN TO TERMINAL PAVILION: 6-bay, comprising 4-bay return to No 20 Ainslie Place, with 2-bay return to left, becoming 21A Ainslie Place. 4-bay elevation comprising 4-panel timber door with plate glass semicircular fanlight in bay to left of centre; windows in round-arched recesses in remaining bays at principal floor, regular fenestration to floors above. 2-bay elevation comprising regular fenestration to all floors; architraved windows with cornices at 1st floor, architraved windows at 2nd floor. Flagged basement area. Adjoining terrace to left (see separate listing, 6-11 Glenfinlas Street).

REAR ELEVATION: not seen, 1998.

Predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows; anthemion and palmette windows guards in bays at 1st floor, except at Nos 17 and 21A, and in bays to left of centre at 8 Great Stuart Street. Grey slate M-roofs; 8-light box dormer spanning bays at No 19. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Broached ashlar ridge and wallhead stacks; corniced, with circular cans.

INTERIORS: not seen, 1998; evidence of working panelled shutters.

RAILINGS AND LAMPS: ashlar copes surmounted by cast iron railings with spear-headed balusters and finials. Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.