Drumsheugh Baths, 5 Belford Road, Edinburgh

Drumsheugh Baths, built between 1882 and 1886 and with later additions in 1900, was designed by John James Burnet. It is a Moorish-influenced swimming baths, of group value, stepped into a sloping site. The building presents a roughly eight-bay elevation to Belford Road, with a single-storey entrance vestibule at street level and a lower level leading to the baths at the rear, and a three-storey gable fronting Hawthornbank Lane.

The exterior is constructed of deep sandstone ashlar at the base, with brackets and dressings; red sandstone columns and window dressings; brick arches; painted render; and coursed rubble to the rear. A doorway to the left (west) of the centre features a red brick horseshoe arched surround and sandstone springing. A polychrome porch sits behind a cast-iron screen, decorated with a geometric design of stars, and bearing the inscription “Drumsheugh Baths.” Two red sandstone columns with foliate capitals, springing from the base course, form the transoms of three large openings, framed by red brick horseshoe arches similar to the doorway; further cast-iron screens with a geometric star design read "Drumsheugh Swimming and Turkish Baths Company”. Large, shaped sandstone brackets support an advanced moulded eaves course, with smaller brackets to the roof. A smaller window is located to the far left (west), in a similar surround with plain sandstone pilasters and a small sandstone console bracket. A round arched brick surround features a large window on the north elevation with deep sandstone transoms and mullions producing a geometric pattern.

Predominantly fixed pane plate glass is set within timber and sandstone surrounds. The pitched roof is covered with grey slates and features a lead ridge. Corniced rendered ridge stacks incorporate decorative corbelled brickwork, and Turkish lantern ventilators have ashlar copes. Cast-iron screens are used for windows and doors, and cast-iron rainwater goods are also present.

The interior, observed in 2009, includes an arched vestibule at street level, connected to the baths at a lower level to the rear. An intermediate level contains an open balcony and a corridor leading to the former Turkish Baths to the right (east), which include a tiled Moorish entrance screen and a vaulted ceiling with an apsidal east end. The main pool has an open timber roof with two glass cupolas. The roof is supported by seven bays of cast-iron columns and red brick arches, with large piers at the north end. A mezzanine gallery is located to the east, behind a timber screen, providing access to a diving niche. A trapeze and rings are positioned over the pool. Timber stalls line the sides of the pool, behind the columns. Further red brick arches to the rear (south) lead to tiled changing areas and showers. Moorish detailing is evident throughout, incorporating fretwork screens and red brick horseshoe arches.