47, 49 Frederick Street, Edinburgh

1786-92; colonnaded shopfront at ground, 1823; later internal alterations; extra storey added to S in mid 19th century. 2 classical blocks of 4 and 5 bays; 4-storey 4-bay to S with platt over basement area; 3-storey on raised basement and attic 5-bay to N. Droved cream ashlar sandstone with polished dressings (cleaned to S); rubble basement.

S BLOCK: 6-bay colonnade with fluted Greek Ionic columns and full entablature at ground; plate glass windows between columns and 2 sets of doors. Upper floors with 3 right bays displaced to right; string course marks original eaves with cornice and blocking course to extra storey.

N BLOCK: architraved and corniced doorway to common stair to right with panelled door and plate glass fanlight. 4-bay shopfront to left with large architraved plate glass windows between base course and entablature and steps to similar doorway with 2-leaf panelled doors and plate glass fanlight, whole framed by pilasters; bar in basement with architraved windows and doorpiece. Broad slate hung box dormer to 4 N bays with 3 canted windows.

Irregular 3-bay rubble gable. Saloon to rear expressed at corner of SW Thistle Street Lane with L-plan pilastered building with incised Greek detailing.

Timber sash and case plate glass windows (12-pane to attic/4th storey). Ashlar coped skews; rendered stacks; piended roof to S (4-storey) block; grey slates.

INTERIOR: shop at ground at No 43 with columns and top-lit saloon to rear. Common stair (No 45) gives access to flats at 1st and 2nd floors. S double upper (with full 4th storey) decorated with 11 framed painted panels of figures in pastoral landscapes on stairwell in Watteauesque manner of D R Hay, dating from about 1835-40; foliate cast-iron balustrade to stair, and Greek key cornice; former 2-bay Dining Room displaced laterally at front with apse and sideboard recess on S wall, flanked by presses, and 19th century Greek cornice; fine carved chimneypiece to SE room. N double upper with turned and block timber banisters; painted carved chimneypiece to front room.

RAILINGS: cast-iron railings to N block.