17, 19 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 (5- bay to basement; 5-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; coursed rubble with dressed margins to rear). Dividing band between basement and ground floor and between ground and 1st floor; mutuled eaves cornice; blocking course. Slightly recessed stair bay to outer left; droved ashlar to ground floor; no band or cill courses. Regular fenestration.

SW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: to centre bay of rusticated section, platt overarching basement recess leading to timber-panelled door in round-arched opening with segmental umbrella glazed fanlight; pilastered doorpiece with narrow 5-pane margin lights. To outer left bay, steps to platt overarching basement recess, leading to timber-panelled and glazed door with 5-light letterbox fanlight. 2 tripartite dormer windows to roof.

NE (REAR) ELEVATION: 5-bay elevation; 3 bays to left form bowed section. Cast iron balconettes to several upper floor windows.

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

BOUNDARY WALL: to rear, random rubble wall with flat concrete coping. Mitre-arched doorway with stugged jambs.

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 droved ashlar stacks to left front pitch; 1 corniced rendered mutual ridge stack to left; 1 corniced rendered wallhead stack to rear; circular cans to all stacks.