General Post Office, 2-4 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh

Robert Matheson, 1861-65, with later additions, W W Robertson, 1891-2 and W T Oldrieve, 1907-10. 3-storey, 11 x 15-bay Italian High Renaissance office building on critical city centre junction site with 4-storey, 3-bay, slightly advanced corner pavilions, and stepped 26-bay elevation to S, with further lower storeys. Ashlar, chamfered rustication to ground. Base course, band course, blind balustraded parapets to 1st and 2nd storeys, dentilled cornice to 2nd storey, balustraded parapet with pedestaled urns to corner pavilions.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: N, S and W elevations with Corinthian order dividing bays; 1st storey window openings with pilasters, engaged and clasping columns; moulded architraves and alternate segmental and triangular pediments. 2nd storey with engaged columns and clasping pilasters, some paired. Deep-set round-arched window openings to ground and 2nd storey.

Main (entrance) elevation to N (Waterloo Place): symmetrical. Central 5-bays to ground with ashlar, round-arched arcaded entrance atrium.

Predominantly 4- and 8-pane timber sash and case windows. Circa 2000 recessed flat-roofed attic storey. Other areas now with roof gardens.

INTERIOR: believed to be comprehensively altered (2000). Office space created within façade retention.

WALL AND LAMP STANDARDS: to W. Broad, ashlar wall with base course and broad, flat coping. Surmounted at 2 entrances by 4 tall, tapered, cast iron square-plan decorative lamp standards with curved feet and hexagonal lanterns.