Commercial Bank, 14 George Street, Edinburgh

The Commercial Bank at 14 George Street, Edinburgh, is a substantial former bank building constructed between 1846 and 1847, designed by David Rhind. Internal alterations were undertaken in 1885 by Sydney Mitchell. The building is conceived as a monumental structure in the Graeco-Roman temple style, with a large, apsidal-ended banking hall located to the rear. It is built of polished cream sandstone ashlar, which has been stonecleaned.

The front block is two storeys high, with a raised basement, measuring seven bays wide by six bays deep. A prominent hexastyle Corinthian portico, with fluted columns, is set behind a flight of steps and features allegorical sculpture within the tympanum. Architectural details include a base course, banded rustication at ground level, giant order pilasters incorporating stylised Corinthian capitals, a full entablature with a dentilled cornice and acroteria, a balustraded parapet, and round-headed windows with architraves on the first floor.

The North (George Street) elevation is of channelled ashlar, with pilasters paired to the outer bays, keystones to the ground-floor windows, and first-floor windows featuring blind balustraded aprons. The East and West elevations feature slightly advanced end bays framed by paired pilasters, with a plain central section.

The rear block is built of plain droved ashlar with a band course separating the floors and extends three bays deep, with the banking hall projecting to the rear. The original windows were timber sash and case, with four horizontal panes; some windows have multi-pane glazing on the sides. Tall panelled stacks originally flanked the building, but have since been removed.

The interior features a lobby leading to a stair hall with columns and an apse, which then opens into a Greek cross plan banking hall at the rear, with an apsidal end. The original wooden columns in the banking hall were later replaced with marble columns.

The front area is flanked by elaborate gateways constructed of Doric pilastered and corniced ashlar, featuring decorative cast-iron gates. These gateways are linked to the steps by an ashlar balustrade with spearhead railings. Further, simpler gatepiers and railings protect the side alleys.

Two pavilions and gatepiers were added to the Rose Street frontage by David Rhind in 1860. These are single-storey and basement structures, with rusticated long and short quoins, a base course, and a dentilled cornice. They have arched niches to Rose Street and similar blind arches on the flanks, with windows to the inner walls. The pavilions have piended roofs covered with grey slates, and are connected by cast-iron fleur-de-lys railings supported by corniced ashlar gatepiers.

Finally, a pair of lamp standards flank the portico. These consist of fluted Doric columns supported on four scrolled legs with paw feet, each topped with an octagonal lamp.