100A Princes Street, Edinburgh

Robert Paterson, 1879. Symmetrical 4-storey attic and garret, large 3-bay Free Renaissance hotel. Polished cream sandstone ashlar (stonecleaned). At ground, modern granite-faced shops crowd central entrance comprised of coupled fluted Corinthian columns and balustraded parapet; broad 2-leaf panelled doors. Upper floors with broad projecting outer bays framed by channelled pilasters, with canted windows to 1st and 2nd floors, bipartite windows to 3rd, balustraded parapets interrupted by arched and pedimented wallhead attic dormers and garret oculi in pavilion roofs with elaborate cast-iron brattishing. Central bay with pair of windows to each floor, those at 1st floor linked by scrolled broken pediment and cartouche of Windsor Castle, those at 2nd floor with consoled pediments; paired wallhead dormers again linked by broken pediment with ball finial; pair of garret oculi.

Timber sash and case plate glass windows. Grey slates; ashlar coped skews, large corniced ashlar stacks at gables and centre.

INTERIOR: elaborate entrance Hall with fluted Corinthian pilasters; cantilevered dog-leg stair with timber barley twist banisters to 1st floor, cast-iron to upper floors. Altered but plain rooms bely rich entrance; 1 surviving grey marble chimneypiece to front at 1st floor.