20 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh

This is a substantial, early 19th-century classical tenement designed by James Gillespie Graham in 1822. The building comprises a 17-bay concave terrace, flanked by a pair of advanced terminal pavilions. The central section is three storeys and basement, while the pavilions are four storeys and basement, contributing to a symmetrical design with a curved frontage. The construction material is polished ashlar sandstone, with V-jointed rustication at the principal floor level.

The principal (north) elevation of the linking terrace is composed of three houses, featuring panelled timber doors with fanlights at numbers 17, 18, and 19. The remaining bays have windows at the principal floor and above. Windows are architraved at the first floor and have architraved detailing on the second floor. A flagged area is present at basement level.

The terminal pavilions are distinguished by Doric pilasters on the first and second floors and panelled pilasters above. A panelled timber door with a semicircular fanlight is located in the bay to the right of centre. The principal floor features windows set within round-arched recesses, while the upper floors have regular window placement. The basement is again flagged.

The return to Great Stuart Street forms an eight-bay section, connecting to the separate listing at 8 Great Stuart Street. A further return, at 21A Ainslie Place, is six bays wide; four bays connect to number 20 Ainslie Place, and the remaining two bays form the elevation of 21A itself. Again, a panelled timber door with a semicircular fanlight is prominent, alongside windows in round-arched recesses on the principal floor and regular fenestration above. A flagged basement is also present here. The building abuts an adjoining terrace to the left, at 6-11 Glenfinlas Street, which is listed separately.

The rear elevation has not been inspected.

The building retains predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows, with anthemion and palmette window guards on the first floor, with some exceptions. The roofs are covered in grey slate, and feature an 8-light box dormer above number 19. Cast iron rainwater goods are also present. A corniced ridge and wallhead stacks rise from the roof, topped with circular cans.

Interior details are not visible from the 1998 inspection, although evidence of working panelled shutters was noted.

Original cast iron railings with spear-headed balusters and finials run along the front, surmounted by ashlar copes, and are fitted with cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.