7 and 9 Union Street, Edinburgh

1. Probably designed by Hugh Cairncross (see Notes); built by John Aitchison. Classical tenement block; 3-storey attic and basement, 6-bay (3-bay to basement; 4-bay to rear) near-symmetrical elevation to Union Street. Smooth V-jointed rustication to ground floor, droved ashlar to upper floors (droved ashlar to basement; random rubble with dressed margins to rear). Dividing band between basement and ground floor; dividing band between ground and 1st floor; cill course to 1st floor; mutuled eaves cornice; blocking course. Slightly recessed stair bay to outer right; droved ashlar to ground floor; no band or cill courses. Regular fenestration.

SW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: to centre bay of rusticated section, steps and platt over-arching basement recess leading to timber-panelled door in round-arched opening with segmental sunburst fanlight. To outer right bay, steps and platt over-arching basement recess lead to timber-panelled and glazed door with 10-light rectangular fanlight. 2 tripartite dormer windows to roof.

RAILINGS: to edge of basement recess and steps and platts, stone copes (edging basement only) surmounted by spear-head finialled cast iron railings.

BOUNDARY WALL: to rear, random rubble wall with flat stone coping.

GLAZING etc: predominantly 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows (4-pane glazing to outer lights of tripartite dormers). Dormers have timber fascia and grey slate haffits and piend roofs. Pitched roof; graded grey slates; stone skews. 2 corniced rendered ridge stacks to left, 1 to right to rear; corniced brick wallhead stack to rear; circular cans to all stacks.