Central Electricity Generating Station, Dewar Place, Edinburgh

Central Electricity Generating Station, Dewar Place, Edinburgh

This is a 2- and 3-storey power station with basement and attic, designed by Robert Morham in 1894 with Professor Alexander Kennedy as consulting engineer. It was extended in 1897/8 and has received further modern additions. The building is constructed in Italian palazzo style and occupies a 14-bay façade (grouped 3-6-3-2). It is built of coursed red sandstone ashlar, with raised voussoirs and quoins to the windows in the 9 bays to the left. A cill course, dividing band course, and blocking course are present, with a balustrade running across the 9 bays to the left.

On the west (entrance) elevation, a 3-bay group to the outer left features an arched entrance at its centre, with decorative iron gates and a corrugated-iron covering to the opening. Above is a recessed lunette window and a tripartite window at first floor with column mullions and paired fluted pilasters. Two 2-light arched windows flank the entrance at ground floor, each with aprons, column mullions, and transoms, with single windows aligned at first floor above. The balustrade breaks at centre by a single window aedicule crowned with a round-headed pediment. A 6-bay group follows, with a pedimented entrance porch at its outer right containing a 2-leaf timber door, fanlight, and keystone, and a Diocletian window aligned above. The remaining bays contain a small basement opening at pavement level, 2-light windows at ground with columnar mullion and apron, Diocletian windows, and 2-light windows at first floor with columnar mullions. A 3-bay group to the right has an arched 2-light window at centre with a roundell, flanked by arched windows at ground, with regular fenestration and architraves at the upper floors. A 2-bay group to the outer right includes a blocked opening, single architraved windows at first floor, and 2-light windows at ground, first, and second floors. A bartizan tower at the outer right comprises a 3-light mullioned window, scrolled pediment, roundell, square-blocked rusticated columns, and a finialed dome.

The south elevation contains 4 bays. A vehicular entrance sits at the outer right with a 3-light window at first floor flanked by consoles, and 2 pairs of 2-light windows at second floor. A consoled corniced doorpiece stands to the right of centre, with single windows at first and second floors. Two bays to the left have regular fenestration, architraved at first floor. A plaque dated 1898 replaces fenestration in the outer-left bay at second floor. A bartizan tower stands at the outer left.

The north elevation comprises coursed sandstone ashlar to the west and brick to the east, arranged in 11 bays grouped 8-3. An arched entrance sits at the left within a recessed 3-bay section to the right, with steps to a 2-leaf timber and glass door and a single window at first floor. Arched windows appear at ground with single windows at first floor in the 2 bays to the right. A central pedimented aedicule contains a vouissored oculus. Large corbelled arched windows at ground appear in the advanced brick 8-bay section to the left, with single windows at first floor. Replacement fenestration occupies 5 bays to the left. A Venetian entrance doorway sits under an arch in the third bay from the right. A flat-roofed brick extension occupies the fifth bay to the outer right.

The north-west elevation (re-entrant angle) comprises 3 bays with a large arched window at centre, flanking architraved single windows, single windows to all bays at second floor, a stepped pediment, and a single window within.

The east elevation is predominantly brick with sandstone rubble to the near right. A 6-bay block to the right comprises a brick 3-bay pedimented block to the outer right and a 3-bay rubble block to the left. The brick block features an iron external staircase rising diagonally from left to right, steps to a door at the outer right, and a single window to the left at ground. A 2-leaf door opens to the left at first floor with 2 Diocletian windows to the right. A door stands at the outer right at second floor with 2 single windows to the left. A bull's eye window appears in the gablehead. A square central entrance opens at ground in the rubble block with a large rectangular window at second floor, flanked by single windows at all floors. The window to the right at ground is blocked; arched windows appear at first floor. Two gabled brick machinery sheds with semi-circular windows are present. A harled modern addition sits to the right, with steps to the outer left. An L-plan brick block at the outer left contains a vehicular entrance at the re-entrant angle.

Much of the small-paned fenestration has been replaced. The roof is of grey slate with piended construction.

The interior contains some decorative plasterwork to the south offices. The turbine house has been subdivided for offices.

Boundary walls comprise brick to the north, with coped brick piers to the vehicular entrance and iron gates.