2 Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh

This is a substantial 1822 terrace designed by James Gillespie Graham, with later additions. It comprises a predominantly four-storey and basement building, featuring a thirteen-bay classical design, incorporating a five-bay linking terrace flanked by a pair of four-bay terminal pavilions. The building is constructed from polished ashlar sandstone, with V-jointed rustication at the principal floor level. The facade includes a base course, a band course between the basement and principal floor, and a corniced frieze at the impost level of the terminal pavilions. Cill courses are present at the first and second floors, along with a cornice and blocking course at the third floor, and at the second floor of the linking block to the left of centre. Ashlar steps and entrance platts project beyond the basement level.

The principal (northwest) elevation of the linking terrace (number 2) features an added storey to the three bays on the right. A four-panel timber door with a plate glass rectangular fanlight is centrally positioned at the principal floor, with regular window arrangements above. The first-floor windows have architraves with cornices, while the second and third floors feature architraved windows. A flagged basement area is also present.

The northwest elevation of the terminal pavilions presents a pair of four-bay structures. Doric pilasters flank the bays at the first and second floors, with panelled pilasters on the third floor. A four-panel timber door with radial semicircular fanlights, now blind, is located at the fourth bay from the outer left and right. Windows are recessed in round arches in the remaining bays at the principal floor, and some are blind. Regular fenestration is found on the upper floors, with blind windows in the centre bays of number 2 and in the bay to the outer right of number 6. A flagged basement area is also present.

The return elevation to Ainslie Place, which connects to 25 Ainslie Place (listed separately), is four bays wide. Similarly, the return elevation to Moray Place, connecting to 37 Moray Place (listed separately), is four bays wide.

The rear elevation has not been inspected since 1998.

Various timber sash and case windows are incorporated throughout, including a six-light small pane bow window to the outer right at the third floor of number 4. Decorative anthemion and palmette window guards are found on the first-floor bays, except at number 2, in the left bays of number 4, and in the bay to the outer right of number 6. The roof is covered with grey slate and features an M-shaped profile, with cast-iron rainwater goods. A variety of broached and rendered ridge stacks are present, topped with coped details and circular cans.

Interior details are not currently known, but evidence suggests the presence of working panelled shutters. The front of the property is bordered by ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with fleur-de-lis finials. Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes illuminate the streetscape.