Western Pavilion, Royal High School, 5-7 Regent Road, Edinburgh

The Royal High School was designed by Thomas Hamilton between 1825 and 1829. This is a significant Greek Revival school building, composed of a principal floor and basement (though there is no basement on the north elevation). The design consists of a powerful symmetrical arrangement: a central Doric temple-pavilion flanked by colonnades and subsidiary temples. The building fully exploits its prominent elevated site, which slopes north to south and west to east. The central temple-style pavilion projects forward with a prostyle portico. It is connected by flanking wings featuring stoa colonnades to further advanced single-bay pavilions. These outer pavilions are themselves connected at basement level by curved exhedrae to small, inward-facing pavilions with tetrastyle prostyle porticoes (described separately below).

The building is predominantly constructed of droved ashlar. Polished ashlar is used on the south elevations (excluding the wall behind the colonnades) and the upper floor of the advanced bays on the west and east elevations. Broached ashlar is used for pilasters, base courses, band courses, and coping. Architectural features include a base course and a dividing band between the basement and principal floor (except on the north elevation and recessed bays of the east and west elevations). There is an eaves cornice and blocking course throughout, with an additional plain architrave, frieze, and corniced parapet on the outer pavilions. The colonnaded wings and the south, east, and west elevations of the central pavilion feature a Greek Doric entablature, enriched with wreaths on the south half of the central pavilion. Antefixae ornament the central pavilion. Pilasters divide the bays on the pavilions on the north elevation and at the corners of the outer bays on the east and west pavilions. Paired pilasters appear on the outer pavilions on the south elevation. Fluted Greek Doric columns divide the bays of the central pavilion and flanking wings on the south elevation.

Fenestration is predominantly regular, with architraves (mostly lugged) to all Vitruvian openings. On the advanced bays of the east and west elevations and the outer pavilions on the south elevation, windows at basement level have hoodmoulded petal-glazed fanlights that break through the band course. On the principal floor, Vitruvian windows have panelled aprons and a cill course. To the northwest of the main building stands a classical lodge designed by Robert Wilson in 1885. To the northeast is a large classical classroom block, also by Robert Wilson, built in 1894 and incorporating a single-storey gymnasium from 1885.

South (Principal) Elevation

The central pavilion features, at basement or podium level on the outer left and right, advanced portals with timber-panelled doors in Vitruvian openings framed by pylons, linked by anthemion-headed cast-iron railings. On either side of the basement are timber-panelled doors in Vitruvian openings. At the principal floor, a hexastyle portico with a single return column and anta on either side frames the entrance. The central bay has a two-leaf timber-panelled door in a Vitruvian opening, with a large inscribed panel above the door. The return walls to the east and west have two-leaf timber-panelled doors.

The flanking wings have, at basement level on the outer ends, timber-panelled doors in Vitruvian openings. At the principal floor, hexastyle colonnades in antis feature timber-panelled doors at the outer ends. The flanking pavilions have slightly recessed central sections. The exhedrae have Vitruvian doorways at the outer ends.

East Elevation

This is a five-bay elevation with slightly advanced outer bays. At basement level, the central bays have rectangular windows. At the principal floor, the central bays have rectangular architraved windows with panelled aprons and a cill course.

West Elevation

This matches the east elevation.

North Elevation

The north elevation comprises a five-bay advanced pedimented central pavilion flanked by lower seven-bay sections, with three-bay advanced pavilions at the outer left and right. The central pavilion has windows in its three central bays. The east and west return elevations have two-leaf timber-panelled doors in corniced Vitruvian openings; a carved stone plaque sits above the west door. Five-bay clerestory fenestration runs across the top.

The flanking wings feature two-leaf timber-panelled doors with small windows above in the second and sixth bays. The slightly advanced central bay has a tripartite window. A corniced octagonal clerestory breaks through the blocking course at the central bay.

The flanking pavilions have a broken cill course. The centre bay has a window with a panelled apron. The east pavilion has a small basement window in the centre bay and blind windows in the left bay. The west pavilion has a blind window in the right bay. The inner return elevations have two-leaf timber-panelled doors with windows above (a brass plaque is located to the right of the door on the east pavilion).

Glazing and Roofing

Glazing is predominantly distinctively patterned multi-pane glazing in timber top-hopper windows. The south elevations of the outer pavilions and advanced bays on the east and west elevations have six-lying-pane glazing in timber top-hopper windows. The central pavilion has a pitched leaded roof. The flanking wings have flat roofs. Above the octagonal clerestorys at the centre are shallow conical roofs of graded grey slate with stone urn finials. The outer pavilions have leaded platform roofs. Cast-iron downpipes with ornamental hoppers are fitted throughout.

Interior

The plan is predominantly symmetrical. A central hall is flanked by small ante-rooms leading to the former Rector's room and library. Plain classrooms occupy the basement and outer pavilions.

The central hall is rectangular with a floor tiered down to a central apsidal-ended orchestra, which has a gilded anthemion railing. On the east, west, and south walls, a gallery features a timber parapet of coffered panels divided by battered pilasters with anthemion finials. The gallery is supported by gilded cast-iron columns with branched foliate capitals. On the north wall, panels appear above the windows, with pilasters dividing the bays. On the east and west walls, windows at gallery level are divided by pilasters. On the south wall, pilasters rise to gallery level. A dentilled cornice with anthemion and palmette frieze sits above. The ceiling is very shallow, curved, and coffered with ornate rosettes and egg and dart mouldings (some rosettes have been removed). Dividing beams corresponding to the bays have guilloche mouldings on the soffit and Greek fret mouldings on the sides.

The ante-rooms have timber-panelling to dado height on the walls, plain cornicing, and are top lit by square cupolas above deep central lightwells (square with rounded corners) with roll-mouldings to the inner edge.

The former Rector's room (to the west) and library (to the east) are square rooms top lit by octagonal clerestorys. They have timber-panelling to dado height on the walls. The west room only has a classical stone chimneypiece on the south wall. Cornice runs above and below the clerestory windows. The ceiling has eight inclined sections with wooden beading forming a panel on each, with a flat octagon in the centre featuring a bay-leaf garland. The remaining classrooms are very plain.

Small Pavilions

These are rectangular-plan temple-style pavilions with the longer elevations facing south and north. They have tetrastyle prostyle porticoes on the inward-facing gables. Pilasters divide the bays on the pedimented outer gables. The south elevations are three-bay, as are the east and west elevations. They have a principal floor and basement (no basement on the north elevations; a low basement on the west pavilion; a full-height basement on the east pavilion). Construction is predominantly polished ashlar, with droved ashlar on the north elevations. Features include a base course and Greek Doric entablature (plain entablature on the north elevations), plus antefixae. Single-storey battered buttresses appear at the outer ends of the south elevations.

Fenestration is predominantly regular. Windows in Vitruvian openings with lugged architraves appear on the principal floor on the south elevations and in the central bay on the west elevation of the west pavilion.

On the west pavilion, the east elevation has a timber-panelled door in the right bay, a raised window in the centre bay, and a blind window in the left bay.

On the east pavilion, the west elevation has a single window in each bay. The east elevation has a two-leaf timber-panelled door in the centre. The north elevation has a window at the far left.

Glazing is predominantly twelve-lying-pane glazing in timber top-hopper windows, with ten-lying-pane glazing in timber top-hopper windows at basement level on the east pavilion and two-lying-pane glazing in timber windows at basement level on the west pavilion. The roofs are pitched and leaded. On the north elevations of both pavilions, very low ashlar wallhead stacks with squat circular cans are present.

Retaining Walls, Gateposts, and Railings

Predominantly arrow-headed railings are fitted to walls on the east boundary, the south walls to the right of the east small pavilion, and the sunken areas surrounding the main building. An ornate anthemion-headed design with dog-bars appears on all gates and on railings on the west and southwest boundaries. Plainer anthemion-headed railings run along the north boundary. All railings are of cast-iron.

Walls are predominantly of droved ashlar with a base course. Squared coursed rubble is used on the north and east boundary walls. Flat ashlar coping tops all walls. All piers are of ashlar, with a base course, cornice, and square cap-stone. Retaining walls with railings surround the sunken areas and steps around the main building.

On the south boundary, between the small pavilions, a channelled, battered wall has a recessed central section flanked by two projecting sections with pedimented Vitruvian gateways with gates.

To the south, adjoining the east pavilion, a high wall has a slightly advanced section to the right. It features a deep base course, plain entablature, and a blocking course surmounted by railings. To the left, a round-headed niche is flanked by pilasters. To the right, flanked by paired pilasters, a two-leaf timber-panelled door sits in a Vitruvian opening with a raised and corniced doorpiece. Adjoining to the right at pavement level is a retaining wall. To the north, a parallel higher-level rubble retaining wall with two droved ashlar courses at the top is surmounted by railings.

On the north boundary, a retaining wall is surmounted by railings.

On the east boundary, to the northeast a high wall terminates to the south with a pier. To the southeast, a lower wall is surmounted by railings.

On the west boundary, at the far left railings flank the access road to Calton Hill, with a pier to the right. Railings run to the south, broken by two pairs of panelled, battered gatepiers (a double gate at the centre is flanked by pedestrian gates). Railings continue on a low wall round to the southeast.

Lodge

The lodge is a single-storey classical building with a Latin-cross plan and pedimented gables. The south elevation is four-bay with a projecting bay at the inner right. All other elevations are three-bay with a projecting centre bay. It is constructed of polished ashlar. Features include a base course, band course, eaves cornice, and acroteria at the apex and ends of the pediments. The projecting wings have pilastered corners.

Fenestration is predominantly regular, with lugged architraves to windows. The centre bay on the east elevation is a blocked window. At the inner left bay on the south elevation, stone steps lead to a timber-panelled door with a rectangular fanlight in a lugged architraved opening.

Glazing is predominantly six-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. The roof is pitched and leaded. A ridge stack sits on the east wing, and a stack sits on the north pitch of the west wing. Both stacks are corniced ashlar with circular cans. Cast-iron downpipes with ornamental brackets are fitted.

Classroom Block

This is a classical, near-symmetrical building with a two-storey, four-bay central block flanked by advanced two-storey, three-bay pavilions with single-storey wings to the outer left and right (three-bay to the left; original openings removed to the right). It is constructed of polished ashlar. Features include a base course, cill band at first-floor level, eaves band course and cornice, and a corniced parapet (eaves cornice and blocking course only on the central section). The corners are pilastered.

Fenestration is predominantly regular, with architraved windows at first-floor level on the central section. Timber-panelled doors with tall fanlights appear at the third bay from the left (approached by a modern ramp), on the east side of the west pavilion, and on the west side of the east pavilion (approached by modern steps).

Glazing is predominantly six-pane timber sash and case windows, with four-pane timber sash and case windows at first-floor level. The roof was not seen in 2002. Cast-iron downpipes with ornamental hoppers are fitted.