16 Randolph Lane, Edinburgh

This is a substantial, symmetrical, neo-classical palace block, built in 1791 to a design by Robert Adam, with construction largely taking place between 1803 and 1807. Early 20th-century attics were later added. Originally comprising six individual houses, it now forms a pair of buildings flanking the former St George’s church (now West Register House, which is listed separately). The building is constructed from polished cream sandstone ashlar, with a rock-faced basement. The ground floor features V-jointed rustication with an impost course, a cill course to the first and second floors, and a cornice and blocking course.

The east-facing Charlotte Square elevation is characterised by a slightly projecting five-bay centrepiece, topped with a tetrastyle porch containing a single door (formerly a pair) and a large tripartite window with Ionic columns and a substantial glazed fanlight. The outer bays are flanked by Ionic columns with balustrades between the column bases, and the facade features a fluted frieze with a blank panel in the centre. The end pavilions have giant pilasters extending to the upper floors. Arched tripartite doorways are present in the inner bays of the pavilions (original metal fanlight to No. 17). At first floor level, a tripartite window is set within a round-arched recess, and the North pavilion has a pyramidal roof, while the South pavilion features a full, pilastered attic storey. The inner three bays are arcaded at ground level, with rectangular windows and arched tripartite doorways. Ashlar attics have been added to No. 16, and continuous, corniced slate attics are present at Nos. 13, 14, and 15.

The irregular, gabled rubble end elevations include a later timber oriel at centre on the south side. A full attic storey extends to the rear. No. 17 has a rebuilt canted rear elevation and a link to two- and three-storey offices.

The building has timber 12-pane sash and case windows, except in the centrepiece and on the south pavilion at first floor, where 15-pane windows are used. Corniced ashlar stacks are present, and the roof is covered in grey slates.

The interior of No. 17 retains enriched ceilings in the former dining and drawing rooms. The interiors of the remaining properties were unexamined in 1995.

A mews, 10-18 Randolph Lane, runs behind 15-17 Charlotte Square and consists of two-storey ranges set at an oblique angle, linked by a high rubble screen wall with scooped coping. A forestair leads to the south block, which has an M-gabled north return elevation and first-floor bipartites to the east. A forecourt features a semicircular, coped rubble screen wall. The north range has an obliquely angled west gable and a run of garage doors to the north, beneath a row of regular timber 12-pane sash and case windows. All buildings in the mews have stone stacks and grey slates.

The property is enclosed by cast-iron spearhead railings and original lamp standards, along with rubble boundary walls to the rear.