23 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh

This is a substantial, early 19th-century tenement building at 19 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh, designed by Robert Reid and William Sibbald. It comprises eight houses, arranged in 3-storey blocks with a partial wallhead attic, and sits within a terrace of 24 bays. The building is constructed of polished ashlar sandstone, with a rusticated finish to the main floor. A noticeable base course, band courses, and cill courses define the facade, with the cills lowered at numbers 27, 29, and 33. Cornices are present at the second floor, with projecting cills to all bays except numbers 19-23. Smaller square windows punctuate the second floor. The first-floor windows have architraved surrounds with cornices, particularly noticeable at numbers 25-33. Ashlar steps and overhanging entrance platts define the basement level.

The main (south) elevation features recessed doorpieces, except at number 33 where the door is centrally positioned. A mix of panelled timber doors, some with radial and plate glass fanlights (such as at number 19), are present. Regular fenestration is maintained across the principal and basement floors. A commemorative inscribed ashlar plaque at number 25 acknowledges that John Gibson Lockhart, the son-in-law and biographer of Sir Walter Scott, lived there between 1821 and 1825.

The east elevation shows a rubble gable with paired windows regularly placed on all floors. The west elevation adjoins a terrace building detailed in a separate listing at 23-23B Dundas Street.

The majority of the windows are 12-panel timber sash and case windows, with a blind window at the centre of the second floor of number 23. Decorative window guards are present at number 33, and spanning three bays at the first floor of numbers 27 and 29, supported by decorative cast-iron brackets. Additional decorative brackets are found on the outer left and right bays at the second floor of numbers 25 and 27. The roof is covered in grey slate, with cast-iron rainwater goods. The roof is finished with broached ashlar ridge stacks, with a rendered gablehead stack topped with a coped design and circular cans.

Interior details are limited due to lack of access in 1997, but evidence of panelled shutters and decorative plasterwork (at number 29’s entrance hall) has been noted.

The front features an ashlar cope topped with cast-iron railings featuring mostly spear-headed balusters, urn finials, and railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.