Surgeons' Hall, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh

W H Playfair, 1829-32, with later additions by A F Balfour Paul, 1908-9. Imposing, two-storey, T-plan, Surgeons' Hall in the Greek Revival style with a fluted Ionic hexastyle portico with palmette frieze and carved foliage decoration, its columns resting on a tall screen wall. Chamfered sandstone ashlar with base course, band course, and cornice. Coursed rubble to rear with ashlar dressings. Tall timber panelled and metal studded entrance door with consoled pediment above.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: North and south elevations both have a full-height single bay pedimented projection with paired Doric pilasters to the corners. Behind towards the rear, are advanced three-bay sections with Doric loggias to ground (the section to north having a Venetian window). Two-storey corridor at southeast corner links to Nos 6 and 7 Hill Square, with glass and timber swing entrance doors.

SCREEN WALL, GATES, AND RAILINGS: Tall, channelled and coped ashlar screen wall fronting the street, incorporating pair of pedimented gateways with scrolled buttresses. Base course. Decorative cast-iron gates. Low coped wall to west surmounted with decorative cast-iron railings and incorporating four cast-iron lamp standards. Mixture of glazing; predominantly 12 and 4-pane timber sash and case windows with some fixed stained-glass windows.

INTERIOR: (seen 2007). Excellent decorative scheme with some original Playfair features. Timber and glass revolving doors lead to double height coffered, domed entrance hall. Sweeping D-shaped staircase with stained-glass stair window. Major rooms have timber panelling and classical fire surrounds. 6-panel timber doors, many with deep cornices. Decorative cornicing. Lecture hall with ornately decorated plaster coved ceiling and cornicing. Elaborate carved plaster doorheads. 7-bay nave and aisle plan galleried museum hall with Doric pilastered piers and glass-coffered ceiling.