50 Dick Place, Edinburgh

This is a substantial double villa, built around 1863 by Frederick T Pilkington. It is situated in Edinburgh and presents a sturdy, free interpretation of Gothic Romanesque architectural style. The building is two storeys high with a mezzanine, basement, and attic, and features a symmetrical rectangular plan when viewed from the garden elevation. It is constructed from pink bull-faced sandstone with cream ashlar dressings, and chamfered reveals.

The north elevation, which serves as the main entrance, is symmetrical and mirrored about a central point. An advanced, enclosed courtyard is situated in the centre, with single windows positioned behind it. Bipartite windows are located on the first floor, and canted, piend-roofed dormers break through the eaves above. To the penultimate bays are flat-roofed, two-storey projections with a jetted first floor and chamfered angles, featuring tripartite leaded windows on the ground floor and two narrow windows above. A gabled porch is attached to the outer return, featuring a timber barrel-vaulted soffit, a round-arched entrance with crowsteps and stylized capitals, and a two-leaf panelled door. Broad, shouldered wallhead stacks are present behind, with triangular lancets. A single window is located on the first floor. The chamfered outer angles each have narrow windows, with pointed arches at the first floor, where the chamfer sweeps to a square.

The south, or garden elevation, is symmetrical with four bays. It features broadly chamfered angles and steeply shouldered wallhead stacks. Single windows flank the centre bay at ground level, and bipartite windows are placed on the first floor. Full-height canted windows are incorporated into the outer bays, one of which includes a French window, while the centre ground floor light has a carved lintel. The first-floor windows have colonette mullions with bases extending down to lintel level and corbelled from lintel level at ground floor. Carved lintels are also present on the first-floor windows.

The east and west elevations are largely blank, with garages adjoining. A timber-framed glass lean-to is attached to the outer left.

Plate glass sash and case windows are used throughout. The roof is covered in grey slate, with lead flashing and one ridge stack. There are four shouldered wallhead stacks, each with individual flues linked by an acanthus cornice and heavy coping.

The interior of number 50 displays an intricate layout, with principal rooms positioned at a 45-degree angle to the main elevations. It features distinctive plasterwork, carved newels, a barleysugar balustrade, and an original fireplace. A tripartite vestibule door with etched glass in the outer panels is complemented by an encaustic tiled vestibule.

The property is bordered by low saddleback boundary walls to the street, with round-headed gatepiers. Higher retaining and mutual walls provide further enclosure.