Stables, Comiston House, Camus Avenue, Edinburgh

This is a stable block dating to around 1815, located on Camus Avenue in Edinburgh. It forms part of the original estate of Comiston House and is a rectangular, single-storey building with an attic, extending five bays, built in a classical style. Flanking wings extend from the main block, all enclosed by a rear courtyard wall.

The building is constructed of coursed red sandstone rubble, with contrasting smooth sandstone ashlar dressings. A smooth sandstone base course runs along the north and east sides, and the front of the main block, while a rubble plinth is present on the rear (south) side. A smooth ashlar band course sits just below the first-floor windows, and a smooth ashlar eaves cornice runs around the roof, including on the flanking wings. Long and short quoins define the corners, and the window and door openings have long and short sandstone surrounds. On the north and east and west elevations of the main block, these surrounds are architraved. All openings, except for a door on the rear elevation, are now blocked. The roofs of the derelict rear wings are missing.

The north elevation features a slightly projecting two-storey entrance bay that breaks the roofline, incorporating a full-height round-arched recess. This recess originally contained a segmental-headed entrance arch at ground level and a thermal window above. Flanking bays on this elevation each have a round-arched window to the ground floor and an attic window above. The rear (south) elevation mirrors this design, with similar detailing including a projecting entrance bay.

The east elevation has a window to the left and a small inserted window to the right. A rear wing adjoins to the left, with a window to the right, and an inserted window with a timber surround to the left. A mid-20th century brick chimney projects halfway up the wall between these features. A courtyard wall adjoins the Comiston House dovecot, which is listed separately. The west elevation has two bays to the main block; an architraved entrance is on the right, and a window with a concrete architrave is inserted to the left. A rear wing adjoins to the right, and is blank except for an inserted window with a concrete surround to the left. A courtyard wall adjoins the outer right side.

The courtyard itself is enclosed by the various walls of the stable block and the surrounding walls. The north courtyard wall mirrors the rear (south) elevation of the main block. The western courtyard wall displays a wing that has been largely demolished, except for sections of gable end and outer walls. The east courtyard wall features an entrance on the left and a carriage entrance on the right, both with long and short surrounds. A coped rubble wall with droved ashlar gatepiers runs along the south edge of the courtyard, with the gatepiers being square in plan, with rounded corners, band courses and pyramid caps. This wall also adjoins the Comiston House dovecot.

Most windows are blocked, and the original glazing is missing. The main block retains a piended grey slate roof, while the rear wings have lost their roofs. A projecting mid-20th century brick chimney is visible on the east elevation of the east wing.