The Protestant Institute Of Scotland, 17, 18, 19 George Iv Bridge, Edinburgh

The Protestant Institute of Scotland, located at 17, 18, and 19 George IV Bridge in Edinburgh, was designed by Patrick Wilson in 1860, incorporating earlier elements. This five-bay tenement building has three storeys and basements, rising to five storeys on Merchant Street, and features Jacobean detailing. The ground floor facing George IV Bridge is painted cream ashlar.

On the east elevation (George IV Bridge), there is a base course and a modillioned cornice at the ground floor. A cill course is present at the second floor, along with another modillioned cornice. The decorative stone parapet includes strapwork and urns flanking a circular carved panel at the center and at the corners. The first-floor windows are corniced and consoled, set in moulded surrounds with strapwork pediments and carved inscriptions on the lintels. The second-floor windows have bracketed cills. To the outer right, there is a two-leaf timber panelled door with a semicircular fanlight, framed by an ornate keyblocked round-arched doorpiece with decorative pilasters and carved spandrels. Above this, an entablature features a carved open book at the center, flanked by urn finials. The shop front has been altered.

The south elevation (Merchant Street) consists of six bays, with dividing bands between the ground and first floors, the first and second floors, and the second and third floors, along with a cill course at the fourth floor. The modillioned eaves cornice and pierced strapwork parapet extend from the east elevation. The initials "PW Archt." are carved on the cornice band. A later entrance is located to the right, with a window above it. The three-storey and basement structure features a regularly fenestrated five-bay house designed by Robert Burn in 1810, complete with cast-iron railings, stone steps, and a plat over-arching the basement area. The timber panelled door has a fanlight above, set in a Doric-pilastered and corniced doorpiece. A round-arched window to the outer right at ground level mirrors the one to the left at No. 3 Merchant Street. Additional two storeys were added above, featuring round-arched windows on the third floor, a cill course at the fourth floor, and a moulded eaves course with a parapet.

The building predominantly features plate glass in timber sash and case windows, with corniced wallhead stacks topped with circular cans.