Redford Infantry Barracks Block, Colinton Road, Edinburgh

A 4-storey, 57-bay, square, double-courtyard plan Infantry Barracks block designed by Harry B Measures, and built between 1909-1915. The building is of dark, coursed rock-faced rubble with pale ashlar dressings and has channelled ashlar to the ground floor. There is a base course, band courses to all floors and an eaves course. The windows have projecting cills. The courtyard elevations are harled.

The principal elevation is to the northwest and has a central, advanced 5-bay section with triple arcaded balconies and octagonal copper-domed turrets. Each of the long flanking wings has two, 2-bay advanced sections with semicircular pediments and advanced dormered roofs. The penultimate bays to each wing are advanced 3-bay gabled sections with semicircular pedimented windows to gable apexes. The ground floor has alternating wide and narrow round-arched, key-blocked windows and doors.

The principal entrance is in the advanced 5-bay section through a large depressed arch and with a slightly recessed 3-bay, 3-storey section above with arcaded balconies. There is a bell-cast, leaded half-roof above the balconies with a large pediment-gable rising behind which has a clock. The 2-bay outer sections to the advanced section are topped by octagonal copper-domed lanterns with tall round-arched windows and flanking mini-turrets.

The side elevations have 2 advanced bays with arcaded balconies.

There is a single-storey section to the rear which is irregularly fenestrated and has later alterations and includes a central, tall, tapered and corniced chimney. Within the courtyard there are linking, single-storey buildings.

The windows are predominantly timber sash and case windows with small pane glazing to the upper sashes and 2-pane glazing in the lower sashes. There are timber casement windows to the ground floor. There are grey graded slates and raised skews to the roof.

The interior was seen in 2016. There are several stone, dog-leg staircases with cast iron railings to all floors. The upper storeys have been converted to small, 4-person rooms (1980-90). The ground floor has retained some timber skirting boards and picture rails to the corridors. There is a canteen area within the courtyard which has part-fluted, Ionic iron columns and a raised area with a dentilled proscenium arch.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following are excluded from the listing: 289 and 291 Colinton Road.