Comiston House, Camus Avenue, Edinburgh

Comiston House, Camus Avenue, Edinburgh

Built around 1815, this is a two-storey classical villa with basement and attic, refurbished and converted to flats in the mid-1990s. The main block is three-bay with rectangular plan, complemented by a lower two-storey service wing attached to the east. The building is constructed of coursed sandstone with sandstone ashlar dressings, with droved finish to the basement and finely droved finish above; the stonework has been stone-cleaned. A base course and band course run above the basement windows throughout; continuous sill bands mark the ground and first floor windows to the north elevation and parts of the east and west elevations. The building features a moulded eaves cornice, quoins (absent from either end of the south elevation), and V-jointed stonework above the basement.

The principal south elevation displays a slightly projecting pedimented entrance bay with stone steps oversailing a half-vaulted basement passage. The entrance comprises a four-panel timber door with rectangular over-light set in an ashlar surround, flanked by narrow four-pane side lights with panels below and pilasters. This entire composition is set back within a segmental-arched opening with a wide fanlight, supported on Doric pilasters. Flanking this are paired Ionic columns on plinths, each bearing an entablature with a single rosette above the column and moulded cornice. Giant Ionic angle pilasters with angled volutes frame the elevation. Above the entrance sits a three-light window with ashlar mullions, surmounted by a pediment with ashlar cornice and a blind oculus at its centre. Single windows flank this on each storey; those to the principal floor feature a moulded frame around the centre of the architrave (except the sill) and moulded consoled cornice above, whilst first floor windows have a plain moulded band around the outer edge of the architrave. Windows throughout have droved long and short surrounds with slightly projecting stone sills to the basement; architraved windows above carry droved long and shorts outside, except to the south elevation. The service wing, set back to the right, has an entrance (converted from a former window) with a panelled timber door and rectangular fanlight above, alongside single windows to both bays at ground floor.

Late-20th century alterations include an inserted basement entrance with concrete long and short surrounds and panelled timber door below the main steps, a modified window with central timber mullion to the right, and an inserted window with concrete dressings further right.

The north elevation features a bowed central bay with three windows to each floor and a pair of slated tripartite dormers above (probably later additions); flanking bays have single windows to each floor. The service wing to the left has two windows to each floor. The west elevation retains rubble walling to its central section, probably originally an internal wall; the former extent of a west wing is defined by the termination of the band courses. A blind window to each floor occupies the outer left and outer right positions (except to basement at outer right). Late-20th century insertions include an entrance at centre with concrete dressings and panelled timber door with rectangular fanlight, flanking windows with concrete surrounds (the left one narrower), and two window openings at first and second floors to the left of centre with concrete surrounds to the lower opening. These openings replaced a round-arched stained-glass stair window that formerly stood between two main floors.

The east elevation shows the service wing projecting forward at centre with three windows to ground floor (outer ones blind) and a late-20th century inserted basement window with concrete surrounds (replacing the original as the wing was formerly extended further east). The main block has single windows to each storey at outer left and outer right (all blocked except that to outer left of basement), and a narrow window to the right of centre at second floor level.

Windows throughout are mainly 12-pane timber sash and case. Piended grey slate roofs cover the building, with droved ashlar stacks bearing moulded cornices: two to the south pitch and two to the north pitch of the main block, and a wallhead stack to the east elevation of the service wing. All stacks have octagonal cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods are in place.

The interior has been much altered and subdivided, particularly in the late-20th century with replacement doors, doorcases and cornices. The original double groin-vaulted entrance vestibule with Doric pilasters survives, along with a timber doorcase with side lights and wide fanlight opening onto a hallway with dog-leg staircase featuring a cast-iron balustrade (possibly relocated from the west side of the main block, where the main staircase was formerly situated).