22 Moray Place, Edinburgh

22 Moray Place, Edinburgh

Designed by James Gillespie Graham in 1822, this is a monumental classical palace block of 55 bays arranged as a symmetrical composition with a 5-part stepped frontage. The building comprises a 4-storey central pavilion with basement, flanked by 3-storey linking terraces with basement and attic, which are in turn flanked by pair of 4-storey terminal pavilions with basement. The structure is built of polished ashlar sandstone with V-jointed rustication at principal floor level.

The building is articulated by a series of horizontal bands: a base course, band course between basement and principal floor, cill course at 1st floor, and a cornice at 2nd floor with string course on the linking blocks. The 3rd floor is marked by cornice and blocking course. A corniced frieze sits at impost level on the central pavilion and the pavilions of the linking blocks. Ashlar steps and entrance platforms overhang the basement level.

The principal (south-east) elevation features an advanced 11-bay central pavilion, with the central 5 bays advanced further. Engaged Doric columns flank the central 5 bays at 1st and 2nd floors, with Doric pilasters flanking the remaining bays at these levels. The 3rd floor has panelled pilasters. The principal floor contains four panelled timber doors with semicircular fanlights of varying designs (radial, metal studs, and plate glass), and windows in round-arched recesses in the remaining bays. Upper floors have regular fenestration arranged throughout.

The north linking terrace is a splayed 3-part composition of 18 bays (Nos 21–26) arranged as 3, 9, and 6 bays. The central 9 bays form an advanced pavilion, with the central 3 bays and outer bays advanced again and crowned by a blank pediment. Engaged Doric columns flank the central and outer bays at 1st and 2nd floors. Three panelled timber doors with semicircular fanlights are positioned at principal floor level. The houses to either side of the pavilion (Nos 21, 25, and 26) have architraved windows with cornices at 1st floor, with some windows also architraved at 2nd floor. Nos 21, 25, and 26 have been raised to 4 storeys.

The south linking terrace is similarly arranged as a splayed 3-part composition of 18 bays (Nos 31–36) arranged as 6, 9, and 3 bays. The central pavilion composition mirrors the north side, with engaged Doric columns and a blank pediment. Three panelled timber doors with plate glass semicircular fanlights sit at principal floor, with regular fenestration above. No 36 has been raised to 4 storeys.

The north terminal pavilion (No 20) is a 4-bay composition with Doric pilasters at 1st and 2nd floors and panelled pilasters at 3rd floor. A panelled timber door with radial semicircular fanlight sits at principal floor. A 5-bay return to the east becomes 19 Moray Place, featuring a 6-panel door with blind semicircular fanlight and windows in round-arched recesses. This return includes blind windows and part-blind windows at various locations, with radial-design glazing at 1st floor in one bay.

The south terminal pavilion is a 4-bay composition with similar pilaster arrangement and a panelled timber door with radial semicircular fanlight at principal floor. A 4-bay return to Great Stuart Street becomes 1 Great Stuart Street (listed separately).

The roofs are finished in grey slate with cast-iron rainwater goods. Anthemion and palmette window guards appear at 1st floor of various houses (Nos 19, 20, 22–25, 33–37, and penultimate bay of No 1 Great Stuart Street). Decorative iron window guards spanning 3 bays appear at 1st floor of No 26. Chimney stacks vary in design, some with cornices and coped with circular cans.

The windows throughout are timber sash and case of various designs. The interiors have not been inspected (as of 1998), though No 28 contains a late 17th-century stair balustrade.

The boundary is defined by ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with fleur-de-lis balusters and some urn finials. Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes complete the composition.