5 Sciennes House Place, Edinburgh

3 and 4-storey tenement with complicated building history in 3 major phases: 1741, construction of 3-bay villa with 2 storeys over basement; 1810-12, 2 bays added to E; circa 1880, removal of doorpiece and steps to principal floor, and conversion into 2 tenements. Construction of neighbouring tenements during later 19th century enclosed principal N elevation, effectively reorientating house to S (now Sciennes House Place). Alterations: circa 1840, rendering of N elevation in a form of "Roman" cement; 1989 restoration.

S (SCIENNES HOUSE PLACE) ELEVATION:

1741: random sandstone rubble with stugged ashlar window and door margines; 3-bay, 3-storey dwelling. Dividing course between ground and 1st floors. Off-centre doorway with panelled door and plate glass fanlight; single windows to centre bay at 1st and 2nd floors; regularly disposed single windows in remaining bays (relieving lintels at 1st floor). 2 canted dormers to attic. Commemorative plaque at 1st floor.

1810-12 (to E of above): squared and snecked sandstone with stugged ashlar window margins and quoins. 3-storey, 2-bay slightly advanced and taller extension to above. Single windows in both bays (some evidence of alterations to windows at 1st floor). Curvilinear W gable.

CIRCA 1880 (TO E OF ABOVE): squared and snecked sandstone with stugged ashlar window and door margins, and quoins. 4-storey, 3-bay tenement. Segmental-arched doorway with cornice to outer left; single windows in remaining bays; segmental-arched windows at ground and 1st floors.

N ELEVATION:

1741: (see notes on 1989 restoration of features on this elevation). Slightly advanced 3-storey, 3-bay block. Random rubble at ground floor; "Roman" cement rendering at 1st and 2nd floors, channelled at 1st and lined at 2nd Dividing band courses at ground and 1st floors; cornice; fluted blind balustrade with central swags, terminal dies and decorative urns; bracketted cills at 1st and 2nd floors (more ornate at 2nd floor); keystoned window surrounds raised at ground, lugged and architraved at 1st, and 2nd floor. Off-centre doorway with relieving arch and panelled door; small ventilation opening flanking to right; single windows above and in remaining bays.

1810-12 (TO EAST OF ABOVE): 2-bay, 3-storey extension of E; materials and details continuous with those listed above. Segmental-arched doorway with boarded door to outer left; single windows at 1st and 2nd floors above; small single window at ground floor between bays; wider single windows at all floors in bay to outer right.

CIRCA 1880 (TO E OF ABOVE): single 4-storey bay visible of corner tenement block, adjoined to similar block to N. Brick with ashlar dressings. Bipartite windows at all floors.

8-pane sash and case windows. Grey slate pitched roof. 2 mutual stacks with deep cornices and moulded cans.