The Conan Doyle, 71 York Place, Edinburgh

The Conan Doyle, located at 71 York Place in Edinburgh, is a classical terraced house designed by Peter Lorimer in 1806, with later alterations. This four-storey building features a basement and has eight bays, positioned on a corner site with a canted bay on the outer left. The exterior is constructed from broached ashlar sandstone, showcasing V-jointed rustication at the principal floor. There are band courses between the basement and principal floor, as well as between the first and second floors. Cill courses are present at the first and second floors, along with a mutuled cornice at the second floor and a cornice with a blocking course at the third floor. The entrance is accessed via ashlar steps and an oversailing entrance platts leading to the basement.

On the northern (principal) elevation, there is a former two-leaf, four-panel timber door with a three-pane rectangular fanlight located in the bay to the outer right at the principal floor. The public house front, known as The Conan Doyle, is a late 19th-century addition that advances four bays to the outer left at the principal floor. This front features panelled pilasters flanking the bays, a dentilled cornice, and a blocking course, along with plate glass windows. Modern two-leaf panelled timber doors with a large plate glass rectangular fanlight are situated to the right. The remaining bays at the principal floor include a blind window in the third bay from the right. The upper floors and basement exhibit regular fenestration, with blind windows in the penultimate bay from the right at the first floor and above, as well as in the third bay from the right at the first floor and above. The basement area is flagged.

The western elevation adjoins another terrace, which is listed separately (63-67 York Place). The eastern elevation, facing Cathedral Lane, is made of coursed rubble and consists of four bays with irregular fenestration across all floors. The southern (rear) elevation was not seen during the 1998 inspection.

The building predominantly features twelve-pane timber sash and case windows, a grey slate M-roof, and cast-iron rainwater goods. The broached ashlar stack breaks the pitch of the roof and is coped, with circular cans. The skews are also coped.

The interiors were not seen during the 1998 inspection. The property is enclosed by ashlar copes topped with cast-iron railings that have spear-headed and urn finials.