28 Drummond Place, Edinburgh

28 Drummond Place, Edinburgh

A classical palace block terrace designed by Robert Reid and William Sibbald in 1804, with design alterations by Thomas Bonnar in 1817-18. The building comprises a 31-bay composition of 4-storey and basement construction, featuring a 5-bay central pavilion with mirrored 10-bay linking blocks on either side, terminating in a pair of 3-bay pavilions. The entire structure is built in polished ashlar sandstone with V-jointed rustication at the principal floor and rock-faced rustication at the basement.

The principal (south) elevation displays considerable architectural refinement. The central pavilion contains recessed doorpieces with radial semicircular fanlights at the principal floor, in the centre bay and penultimate bay from the right. Windows in round-arched recesses appear at the principal floor to the left of centre and at the outer bays, with regular fenestration above and to the basement. Ionic pilasters divide the bays at the 1st and 2nd floors. The 1st floor windows have blind balustered aprons, from which the balusters were removed in 1997. The 3rd floor features panelled pilasters between bays. A base course runs at the principal and 1st floors, with a cill course at the 1st and 2nd floors; a cornice and blocking course finish the 3rd floor of the terminal pavilions. The basement comprises a flagged area with rubble walls and predominantly vertically boarded timber doors to cellars.

The linking blocks flanking the central pavilion are 3-storey and basement structures, 10 bays long. At the principal floor they contain pairs of windows with doors between them, radiating from the central pavilion, with single windows to the outer bays. Regular fenestration continues to the floors above and basement. A metal plaque on No 25 commemorates Sidney Goodsir Smith (1915-1975), described as a poet, artist and wit who lived here.

The terminal pavilions are mirrored pairs of 4-storey and basement, 3-bay structures. The principal floor contains windows in round-arched recesses at the centre and outer bays. At the 1st floor, the centre bay windows are pedimented with consoles, while flanking bays have corniced windows with consoles. Regular fenestration continues above, and lunette windows are centred at the 3rd floors. Central wallhead tablets with swag decoration crown each pavilion. The 1st floor windows carry blind balustered aprons. Corniced friezes mark the impost level to the central and terminal pavilions.

The Scotland Street return to the eastern terminal pavilion presents a 4-storey and basement, 6-bay elevation (Nos 2 and 2A-D Scotland Street). A common stair door occupies the bay to the left of centre, flanked by blind windows to the left and windows to the right. Regular fenestration appears above, with blind windows in the outer left bay and penultimate bay from the left. Former shop fronts flank the entrance steps at basement level.

The Dundonald Street return to the western terminal pavilion forms a 4-storey and basement, near-symmetrical 4-bay elevation (Nos 2-6 even Dundonald Street). A common stair door with a 6-panel flush-beaded timber door and radial rectangular fanlight sits in the penultimate bay from the right at principal floor. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversail the basement, supported by shallow arches that extend to a sub-basement. Half-turn stairs to the outer left and right access the sub-basement, while a fore-stair to the right of centre rises to the principal floor. Windows appear in the outer left bay and penultimate bay from the left, with regular fenestration above and blind windows in the outer right bay at all floors. Shop fronts flank the entrance steps at basement level.

The windows throughout are predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case, with some plate-glass sash and case examples. Basement doors are predominantly 6-panel flush-beaded. The roof is grey slate with an M-profile. A bipartite box dormer sits over the outer left bay of the western linking block. Cast-iron rainwater goods run throughout. Ridge stacks are of varied broached ashlar and harled construction, with large shouldered wallhead stacks at the left of centre to the Scotland Street return and right of centre at the Dundonald Street return, coped with circular cans.

The interiors, not fully inspected in 1997, show some evidence of working panelled shutters. Pendentive entrance halls serve Nos 17-18 and 22-23, the latter featuring Doric columns and reliefs with classical figures. The entrance halls at Nos 28-29 display pilasters and coffered ceilings.

The boundary treatment comprises ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with spear-headed balusters and urn finials, with a pineapple finial to No 28. Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps with glass globes provide illumination.