2 Oxford Terrace, Edinburgh

John Tait, 1855-59, with some later alterations at attic. Extensive terrace of 3-storey, basement and attic, 3-bay townhouses in Italianate classical style, with advanced sections at No.4 and No.8 and advanced 6-bay corner tenement pavilion; set on ground falling to NE. Sandstone ashlar. Entrance platts oversailing basement area recess to street. Banded base course; banded cill course at 1st and 2nd floors, moulded cill course at 3rd floor of corner pavilion; some balconies on large scrolled brackets with geometric cast-iron balustrades at 1st floor; corniced and dentilled eaves course; balustraded parapet to No.4. Banded doorways with predominantly timber 2-leaf, 6-panel doors and rectangular fanlights (some with geometric glazing pattern). Moulded and lugged architraved ground floor windows; moulded architraved 1st floor windows with alternating triangular and segmental pediments, corniced 1st floor windows to Nos. 9 and 10, triangular pedimented 1st floor windows flanked by corniced windows to corner pavilion block; deep bracketed cills to moulded architraved 2nd floor windows. Large later tile hung mansard roof to No.8; variety of later attic dormers.

NE (LENNOX STREET) ELEVATION: 3 bays. Blind windows to flanking bays.

SW (REAR) ELEVATION: coursed squared rubble with some droved ashlar quoins, rybats, cills and lintels. Roughly regular fenestration with some paired windows at 1st and 2nd floors. Some canted 3-light bays.

Predominantly 8-pane glazing pattern in timber sash and case windows, 12-pane at 2nd floor. Double-pitched roof; grey slates. Corniced ashlar ridge and end stacks with octagonal clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Cast-iron railings edging basement area recess to street.

INTERIOR: (selection of interiors seen 2010) classical decorative scheme characterised by intricate plasterwork and large drawings rooms. Decorative cornicing to entrance vestibules and principal rooms, some ceiling roses, some large marble fireplaces; stone stairs with well-detailed cast iron balustrade and timber handrail, topped by large cupolas with decorative plasterwork beneath. Some later conversion to flats.