Charity Workhouse, 1, 2, 3, 4 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh

The Charity Workhouse, located at 1, 2, 3, 4 Forrest Hill in Edinburgh, was constructed between 1739 and 1743 by mason Samuel Neilson, along with wrights William McVey and James Heriot. This four-storey and attic L-plan tenement features a crow-stepped gable and is a remnant of the former Edinburgh Charity Workhouse. The building is made of harled rubble with ashlar margins around both doors and windows, except on the gable.

On the south elevation, there is a five-bay wing to the right, which includes a boarded timber door with a three-pane fanlight accessed by steps with cast-iron railings. Above, three windows light the stairwell. The remainder of this elevation is regularly fenestrated, with slate-hung dormers in the attic. The gable-end to the left, which was formerly the junction to a now-demolished main block, features a boarded timber door with an eight-pane fanlight in a chamfered ashlar surround at the center, with single windows above.

The east elevation consists of two bays that are regularly fenestrated, with slated dormers in the attic above. The west elevation also has two bays, regularly fenestrated, and features a gablehead chimney with a window in the attic to the left. This side abuts a single bay return to the north.

The north elevation is three storeys and an attic, made of harled material. To the right, there are three bays with a mansard roof, which are regularly fenestrated. To the left, there are five bays that are also regularly fenestrated, featuring stone-mullioned bipartite windows in the center bay and slated dormers in the attic.

The building is topped with grey slates and predominantly features 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. The gablehead chimneys are corniced and made of harled material, with circular cans.