33, 33A Gayfield Square, Edinburgh

33, 33A Gayfield Square, Edinburgh

A classical tenement range designed by James Begg around 1791. The building consists of a near-symmetrical, 4-storey structure with basement and attic, dominated by a slightly advanced 5-storey, 5-bay pavilion at its centre.

The central pavilion features pedimented outer bays with lunettes to the 4th floor and corniced raised panels between the 3rd and 4th floors. Decorative iron balconettes ornament the 1st floor. Single advanced bowed bays project to the outer left and right of the range, each containing tripartite windows with recessed aprons at ground floor level, and Venetian windows to the 1st and 2nd floors separated by a dividing band and set within a 2-storey over-arch.

The ground floor is dressed with droved V-jointed rustication, while the basement features droved ashlar. The upper floors are similarly finished in droved ashlar. The north-east elevation uses coursed squared rubble with droved margins and quoins to basement, upper floors and all storeys. Dividing bands run between the lower and upper basements, between ground and 1st floor, and between all upper floors (except to the single advanced bays and the side elevation). A cill band marks the 1st floor, and an eaves cornice crowns the composition. Fenestration is predominantly regular throughout.

The south-east elevation fronting Gayfield Place comprises 15 bays with an additional basement storey to the right of the central pavilion. Four timber-panelled doors with fanlights punctuate this elevation: the 5th bay from the left has a door with an umbrella glazed fanlight in a round-arched opening ornamented with a carved bearded head; the 8th bay has a door and 4-light rectangular fanlight in an architraved doorpiece with a consoled and dentilled cornice; the 13th bay has a door with a rectangular fanlight; and the 14th bay has a door and umbrella glazed fanlight with a pilastered doorpiece in a round-arched opening. Platts ovarch the basement recess to each doorway. Narrow slit windows appear to the 2nd bay from the left. The roofline features curved tripartite dormers to the 3rd and 5th bays from the left and flat-roofed dormers to the 11th and 14th bays.

The south-west elevation fronting Gayfield Square presents a 5-bay composition. A timber-panelled door with a letterbox fanlight occupies the central bay, approached by steps with a platt overarching the basement. Sunk panels articulate the corners at 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors. Three flat-roofed dormers punctuate the roofline.

The north-east elevation fronting Gayfield Place Lane comprises 4 bays and contains a timber-panelled door with an umbrella glazed fanlight in a pilastered round-arched opening.

The north-west rear elevation features a bowed projection to the outer left with tripartite windows, a bowed 3-bay projection to the centre, and a flat-roofed dormer to the roof at the right.

Glazing throughout consists predominantly of 12-pane sashes. The upper sashes of Venetian and some rear windows contain 9-pane glazing, with 6-pane glazing to lower sashes of their central lights. Flanking lights of Venetian and tripartite windows use 4-pane glazing. The 4th floor of the central pavilion employs 6-pane glazing. All windows are timber sash and case. Dormer windows feature timber fascias and grey slate haffits and roofs. A rooflight sits in the roof of the right recessed section.

The main roof is pitched and piended, covered in grey slate with stone skews and skewputts. One ridge stack stands to the right; two gablehead stacks flank the central pavilion to left and right; one ridge stack stands to the left, distinguished by a round-headed arch at its centre with raised keystone and impost band. Two wallhead stacks rise from the rear elevation. All stacks are corniced and finished in droved ashlar, hammer-dressed with droved dressings to the rear stacks. Circular cans crown all stacks.