Norwich Union Insurance Societies, 49 George Street, Edinburgh

Circa 1775; subsequent considerable alterations, G Beattie & Sons, 1877; J Kinross and J Inch Morrison, 1921. 3-storey and attic 11-bay former classical tenement. Droved cream sandstone ashlar.

No 49: built out front by John Kinross and J Inch Morrison, 1921. 3-bay block with pared down Greek Doric 2-storey front. Polished ashlar additions; 2nd floor stonecleaned. Rusticated at ground with multi-pane canted glazing and 2-leaf doors to left; 1st floor plinth with Greek key frieze; metal glazing set back between square columns decorative cast-iron balustrading in front; stylised triglyph frieze and heavy cornice. 3 flagpoles. Original 2nd floor with eaves cornice. Single piend-roofed canted 20th century dormer (pair to that at No 51, see below).

3-storey on raised basement dressed stone rear elevation with tripartite window at centre to each floor.

Timber and metal casements to addition; 12-pane timber sash and case at 2nd floor. Enlarged rendered stack to E; grey slates.

Interior: good inter-war classical interior decorative scheme with open dog-leg stair across centre and top-lit banking hall to rear, with compartmented ceiling.

No 51: refaced and slightly built out front by George Beattie & Sons, 1877. 3-bay block with Renaissance detailed 2-storey front. Polished ashlar additions. At ground, large segmental-pedimented doorpiece to left and 3-bay arcaded window to right with small Corinthian pilasters; lugged architraves at 1st floor, with consoled cornice above. Original 2nd floor with eaves cornice. Single piend-roofed canted dormer (pair to that at No 49, see above).

Irregular 3-storey on raised basement 5-bay coursed rubble rear elevation (extends behind Nos 53-5) with arched openings at ground, loading doors and flying link with Nos 54-8 Thistle Street (see separate listing).

Timber sash and case windows; plate glass to new front, 12-pane at 2nd floor. Ashlar coped skew and stone stack to W; grey slates.

Interior: front block remodelled later 19th century; 2 plain top-lit auction rooms to rear, that to E of considerable historic interest (see Notes).

Nos 53-55: 5-bay. 2 modernised shops built out at ground; that to right retaining later 19th century consoles and cornice and incorporating access to common stair door to right. Pair of late 19th century canted piend-roofed dormers, and further bipartite dormer above common stair bay.

Timber sash and case plate glass and 12-pane windows. Ashlar coped skews; stone stacks (removed to W); grey slates.