Stables, Drylaw House, Groathill Road North, Edinburgh

The stables at Drylaw House comprise a series of buildings arranged around a courtyard to the north of the main house, with a prominent stable range forming the southern arm of an L-shaped block closest to the house. The southern part of the courtyard features mostly ruinous secondary buildings. The date of construction remains uncertain, but the L-shaped block likely incorporates elements of the earlier Drylaw House, originally built before 1718, and reuses fragments of varying dates.

The south range of the L-shaped block probably incorporates the 17th century Drylaw House and appears to have served as stables, although it was likely used for domestic purposes at least after the early 18th century. This two-storey range has a pitched roof with a pair of end stacks topped with 'thack-stanes', possibly indicating a prior thatched roof. The walls are constructed of rubble with ashlar dressings, and the openings are symmetrically placed and chamfered. The south front features two doors at ground level (the right one with a later lintel), a window at first floor to the right, and a large opening to the left which was originally a doorway accessed by a forestair (now lost), with a bowtell moulded threshold. Behind, in the southeastern re-entrant angle facing the courtyard, is a possible entrance turret, which may have been part of an earlier jamb. The first floor level has been raised in later alterations; originally, it would have been lower to align with ornate fireplaces in the east and west gables. The west gable fireplace is likely from the mid 17th century and is elaborately detailed with a deep cavetto moulded surround, a central keystone, swags in the frieze, and a deep moulded cornice. The east gable fireplace is simpler, with a bolection moulded design. The east gable shows an exposed rubble course at the wallhead, near the site of a lost building on the southeastern corner. A wall fragment remains, incorporating a large triangular-shaped lintel with carved gargoyle heads of late medieval date.

A single-storey building attached to the north, likely a byre, features three chamfered doors on the west elevation, the third being very narrow. A small, now blocked, window is located to the right. The east elevation displays two later alterations. A deep curved angle at the south end of the east wall is difficult to interpret but may be the remains of a stair turret. A secondary cross-wall, not keyed into the main structure, is present at the north end. Inside, two stone channels/gutters run along the floor. A small, now ruinous, compartment attached to the north incorporates a bolection moulded lintel at the basecourse.

The detached north block is contemporary with the L-shaped block. It originally comprised two two-storey compartments with chamfered openings, and features large ashlar quoins. A single door is present on the west elevation, with three on the east. Relieving arches are above the east doors, and the remains of a third, narrower, door are visible to the east. An attached ruinous building is located to the north.

The west block, serving as a coach house or garage, is a plain, square-plan block with a modern roof. A small, detached building to the east of the stables court is rectangular with a lean-to slab roof and may have functioned as an icehouse.