4 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh

William Playfair, designed 1825, built 1826-1833. Part of long terrace of 34 classical 3-bay townhouses; originally 2-storey, basement and attic elevations (many have additional later 3rd storeys) punctuated by 2 18-bay, 3-storey pavilions with 3-bay advanced sections to each end (Nos 11-16 and 23-28) and with 12-bay, 3-storey section to the western end (Nos 1-4); terrace stepped down at intervals to follow slope of road. Droved ashlar to basement; polished ashlar to upper floors; predominantly coursed squared rubble with dressed margins to rear elevation. To principal elevation: base course; dividing band between basement and ground floor; dividing band and cornice between ground and 1st floors; to 1st floor, continuous cast-iron trellis balcony with Greek key border; band above 1st floor windows (excluding pavilions); main cornice dividing 1st and 2nd floors; eaves cornice; blocking course. Doorpieces of fluted attached Greek Doric columns. Regular fenestration to principal elevation; architraved windows to ground, 1st and 2nd floors; panelled aprons to ground floor windows; predominantly regular fenestration to rear elevation.

SE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: 3-storey and basement elevation. To basement, to centre bay, timber panelled door with 3-light fanlight; windows to left bay, area beneath platt blocked by wall with window. To ground floor, to right bay, steps and platt overarching basement recess leading to 2-leaf timber-panelled door with letterbox fanlight.

NW (REAR) ELEVATION: 3-bay elevation with later full height extension (with additional single storey ground floor extension) centre. Tripartite window incorporating door to right bay to ground floor. Eaves course.

GLAZING etc: predominantly plate glass; 12-pane glazing to basement to front elevation; multi-pane glazing to tripartite window to rear elevation; glazing predominantly in timber sash and case windows. M-roof with central valley; graded grey slate; stone skews and skewputts. To E and W, rendered corniced mutual ridge stacks; to rear, small wallhead stack; wall end stack to E elevation of extension; predominantly circular cans.

RAILINGS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: to front, edging basement recess and platt, stone coping surmounted by cast-iron railings with dog bars, spear-head finials and distinctive circled border; to left of platt, wrought-iron lamp standard. To rear, forming boundary of garden, random rubble walls with predominantly flat coping.

INTERIOR: to ground floor: to lobby, compartmented ceiling, excellent plasterwork, screen of fluted Corinthian columns and pilasters; to former dining room, good plasterwork. To 1st floor, good plasterwork; to former drawing room, classical marble chimneypiece. Stone cantilevered stairs with ornate cast-iron balusters; timber screen to foot of stairs; timber panelling to walls of hall to ground floor.