45 Constitution Street, Leith, Edinburgh

45 Constitution Street, Leith, Edinburgh

This is a symmetrical, two-storey, six-bay residential building dating from 1809–14. It comprises Nos 49-53 Constitution Street and the façade of the single-storey, two-bay linking block at No 45, all formerly part of the Leith Exchange Buildings and Assembly Rooms.

Nos 49-53 is constructed of stugged sandstone ashlar with polished dressings in the classical style. The building has regular fenestration to the four centre bays, flanked by slightly advanced bays with fluted pilastered and corniced doorways. These doorways feature a Greek key patterned frieze, panelled doors and diamond-pattern fanlights. The outer bay to the left contains a vehicular pend at ground floor, fitted with a later flat lintel insert. The outer bay to the right has a segmental-arch recess with a tripartite window. The ground floor windows have recessed aprons. A band course runs above the ground floor, with an eaves cornice and blocking course completing the classical composition. The building is fitted with timber sash and case windows with plate glass glazing. The piended roof is covered in grey slate with metal flashings and has one ridge chimney stack. The rear elevation has a later render finish. The interior has not been examined.

The façade of the single-storey, two-bay linking block to the left has two timber panel doorways, one of which provides access to No 45 Constitution Street. Above each door are blind rectangular recesses, and a simple continuous cornice runs across the façade.

An existing assembly hall of 1783 was altered to form the palatial Leith Exchange Buildings at 37-43 Constitution Street in 1809–14. A plan of 1809 by Thomas Brown shows the site of the adjoining offices and lodgings, now Nos 45-53. The Exchange Buildings and associated offices were completed by 1814 and are depicted as a single complex on Kirkwood & Son's map of 1817. From 1866 until at least 1892, the building at No 45 was occupied by the Edinburgh postmaster, undertaker and coachbuilder John Croall and Sons, with stables to the rear.

The first decades of the 19th century witnessed major civic building in Leith, reflecting its growing commercial wealth and status. The Exchange Buildings became a focus for commercial activity at the Port of Leith throughout the 19th century, comprising large sale rooms for goods arriving by sea, a library reading room, ballrooms on two levels, and offices and lodgings. The buildings occupy a prominent and strategic position near the former entrance to the Albert Dock and are part of a group of key civic buildings in Leith relating to a major period of commercial and maritime development during the 19th century.