38 West Register Street, Edinburgh

S BLOCK (FORMERLY NO 28): W Hamilton Beattie (as George Beattie and Son), 1864; later alterations at roof. Symmetrical 4-storey and attic Venetian Gothic former warehouse and printers. Polished cream sandstone. Ground floor with semi-elliptical arcade and rope moulded cornice. Pointed arch arcade to 1st and 2nd floors with dentilled cornice; teardrop-headed windows divided by pierced band; rich carving at 1st floor. Trefoil-headed windows at 3rd floor. Bracketed cornice. Canted corners with magnificent carved arched doorways (now blocked);2 windows to each floor above; pierced parapets.

S ELEVATION: 7-bay. Broad slightly projecting central bay with arched pend at ground flanked by painted bronze bas-relief portraits; polychrome treatment and single arch above; 2 windows at 3rd floor.

W ELEVATION: 6-bay return adjoining moden block.

E ELEVATION: 6-bay return adjoining NE block (see below).

Timber plate glass casement windows. Modern mansard roof with velux windows and grey slates.

NE BLOCK (FORMERLY NO 38): earlier 19th century 5-storey and attic classical corner block; 4 bays to each elevation. Droved cream sandstone ashlar. Plate glass shop windows with cornice at ground; cill bands at 1st and 2nd floors. Cornice and solid parapet. Adjoins modern block to W.

12-pane timber sash and case windows. Modern mansard roof with velux windows and grey slates (as above).

INTERIOR: converted to modern office use.