68 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh

A grand palace block constructed in 1807 by George Winton, Thomas Morison and James Nisbet, it comprises fourteen 3-bay houses, forming a near-symmetrical design with a prominent central pavilion and flanking sections. The building stands two storeys high with an attic and basement, extending to three storeys, attic and basement at number 44. It is built from polished ashlar sandstone, with rusticated stonework at the basement level. A base course, band courses between the basement and principal floor, and again between the principal and first floors, are visible. A mutuled cornice and blocking course runs along the first floor. The windows are architraved with cornices, and some have blind balustered or fluted aprons, or lowered cills. Wallhead tablets are present on the central and terminal pavilions, although part of the eastern terminal pavilion’s tablet has been removed. Ashlar steps and entrance platts extend over the basement.

The principal north elevation displays a mirrored arrangement of doors, with round-arched doorpieces to the central and terminal pavilions, and pilastered doorpieces with paterae and cornices to the linking blocks. Fanlights, both radial and plate glass semicircular, are above the doors. Fenestration is regular to the remaining bays at the principal floor, and to the upper floors and basement.

The east and west elevations feature coursed rubble gables with windows located centrally at the first floor and in the attic; the west elevation’s window is to the left of the centre at the attic level.

The building has predominantly 12-pane timber sash and case windows, with window guards visible at the first floor of numbers 62, 64, and 68. The roof is covered in grey slate, punctuated by a variety of dormers including rectangular dormers, gabletted dormers, box dormers (spanning one or two bays), and a canted piended dormer. Cast-iron rainwater goods are in place. Stacks are built from rubble and rendered, with coped details and circular cans.

Interiors were not inspected in 1997, but some evidence of working panelled shutters was noted.

The front of the building has ashlar copes topped with a cast-iron railing featuring spear-headed balusters and urn finials, with railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.