21 Union Street, Edinburgh

1. Probably designed by Hugh Cairncross (see Notes); built by John Aitchison.Classical tenement block; 3-storey attic and basement, 5-bay symmetrical elevation to Union Street. Smooth V-jointed rustication to ground floor, droved ashlar to upper floors (droved ashlar to basement; random rubble with dressed margins to rear). Dividing band between basement and ground floor and between ground and 1st floor; mutuled eaves cornice; blocking course. Regular fenestration.

SW (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: to centre bay, platt overarching basement recess leading to timber-panelled door in round-arched opening with segmental umbrella design fanlight; pilastered doorpiece with narrow 4-pane margin lights. 2 tripartite dormer windows to roof.

NE (REAR) ELEVATION: 3-bay elevation with bowed right bay.

NW (SIDE)ELEVATION: 4-bay elevation. Droved ashlar. Blind windows to inner right bay.

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

BOUNDARY WALL: to rear, random rubble wall with flat concrete coping.

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. 1 corniced, droved gablehead stack to NW gable; 1 corniced ashlar ridge stack to right; 1 corniced rubble wallhead stack with droved dressings to rear; circular cans to all stacks.