23 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh

Designed by James Gillespie Graham in 1822, 22 Ainslie Place is a 17-bay symmetrical classical terrace forming part of a larger group value context. It consists of a central 9-bay terrace of three houses, flanked by a pair of 4-bay terminal pavilions. The main building is four stories high, with a basement, while the pavilions are three stories high with a basement. The construction is polished ashlar sandstone; the principal floor exhibits V-jointed rustication, while Nos. 10 and 11 St Colme Street feature channelled rustication. Decorative detailing includes a base course, string courses, cill courses, and cornices. Ashlar steps and platts overhang the basement level.

The northwest (principal) elevation of the central terrace displays two-leaf timber doors with six panels and plate glass rectangular fanlights. Regular sash windows are present in the remaining bays at the principal floor and above. A flagged area defines the basement.

The northwest elevation of the terminal pavilions showcases Doric pilasters and doors recessed within round-arched openings; these doors are timber, four-panelled, with semicircular plate glass fanlights. Remaining bays on the principal floor have windows also set within round-arched recesses. The basement is again flagged.

The southwest elevation returns to No. 11 St Colme Street (listed separately) with a panelled timber door and semicircular fanlight in a round-arched recess, and windows mirroring the earlier design. Similarly, the return to Great Stuart Street links with 6 Great Stuart Street (listed separately). The rear elevation was not inspected in 1998.

A variety of timber sash and case windows are fitted throughout the building, with anthemion and palmette window guards at the first-floor bays of the central block and north terminal pavilion. The roof is covered with grey slate, with modern box dormers added to No. 24. Cast-iron rainwater goods are present. The building includes broached ashlar ridge stacks, coped with circular cans. Internal features have not been inspected, but there is evidence of working panelled shutters. The railings are ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with fleur-de-lis finials, and include cast-iron, railing-mounted lamps with glass globes.