21 Rutland Street, Edinburgh

23 Rutland Street is a substantial 2-storey, basement and attic, 22-bay terrace of houses, built in 1819 (planned) and 1830 (construction started), with later alterations, overlooking Rutland Street in Edinburgh. The terrace is built of sandstone, with droved ashlar at basement level and polished ashlar above, with polished dressings. A band course separates the basement from the ground floor, and a cill course runs along the first floor. Cast-iron balconies are positioned at first-floor level above each group of three bays, except for the two-bay section at the northeastern end. A string course sits below the cornice, topped by a coped baluster parapet.

The principal, southeastern elevation is near-symmetrical. Segmental-arched doorways with timber doors and 3-light fanlights are found in the central basement bays. Some basement bays are now infilled with windows or doors, and one door is located beneath an oversailing entrance platt in the outer two-bay blocks. Ground-floor windows are regularly spaced, with timber panelled doors and rectangular fanlights (geometric at numbers 11, 17 and 21, except for number 25, which is to the left of centre). The fenestration is regular at the first floor. There are two box dormers on each three-bay block, and a single box dormer on each two-bay block.

The northeastern and southwestern elevations are largely obscured by adjacent buildings. The northwestern elevation has not been seen since 2000.

Most windows are predominantly 2-pane timber sash and case, with 12-pane windows at numbers 11 and 21. Dormer windows have timber-framed construction. The roof is covered in grey slate, with felt-covered dormers and slate aprons, and a slate-hung mansard at number 23. The building features coped ashlar and rendered multi-flue stacks at block divisions, topped with tall, moulded cylindrical cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods are also present.

The interiors have mostly been converted to offices and were not fully inspected in 2000.

Spear-headed cast-iron railings are set on ashlar copes, with plain railings leading up to the doorways. Four ornamental railing-mounted lamp standards, each with a glass globe, are spaced evenly along the elevation.