143 George Street, Edinburgh

The building at 40 Charlotte Square is a substantial, symmetrical, neo-classical palace block built in 1791, designed by Robert Adam. Robert Reid made alterations to the design in 1810, and later attics were added. Originally comprising seven separate houses, it now forms one of a pair flanking the entrance to George Street. The building is constructed of polished cream sandstone ashlar, with rock-faced stonework to the basement. The ground floor features V-jointed rustication, and there is a cill course to the first and second floors, topped by a cornice. Tripartite doorways have round heads with radiating glazing.

The west elevation, facing Charlotte Square, features a prominent five-bay centrepiece, with an arcade at ground floor level and a central doorway. Round-headed windows are recessed within round arches. The outer bays slightly project at ground level and have giant Ionic columns rising to the upper floors, with balustrades between the column bases. An entablature and cornice run along the top. The first floor’s central window is topped with a consoled pediment, while the flanking windows have cornices. Three-bay end pavilions feature tripartite windows to both ground and first floors; the first-floor windows have columns, a blind balustrade, and a shallow blind arch. A pair of festooned panels adorns the first floor of the pavilions, and doorways are located in the inner bays. A porch with Ionic columns was added by John Watherston & Son in 1902. The cills to the first floor of numbers 41 and 45 have been lowered, with decorative cast-iron balconies added to number 45. The pavilions have pyramidal roofs, and the houses between feature a variety of dormers and mansards.

The north elevation, onto George Street, is three bays wide, with a modern ashlar-faced shopfront built out at ground level. A pediment (facing the opposite side of the street) sits above a large timber canted window on the right, while blind windows are positioned on the left. A coursed rubble gable end is visible to the north, with windows positioned centrally.

The windows are timber 12-pane sash and case, with 15-pane or plate glass to the extended windows, and 4-pane windows to the central house (number 43). Corniced ashlar stacks are present, and the roof is covered in grey slates.

The interior of number 40 features grey and white marble chimneypieces and corniced doors. A circular stairwell rises to a domed cupola, with a stove niche at ground level. Number 41 has a glazed timber screen and revolving door, and the ground floor has been opened up with an Ionic arcade and glazed timber partition. Number 44, designed by Robert Reid, features a unique interior, which was unseen in 1995.

Original cast-iron spearhead railings and lamp standards remain.