20, 21, 22 Bellevue Crescent, Edinburgh

Bellevue Crescent, Edinburgh

A Grade A listed building comprising numbers 20, 21, and 22 within a larger classical terrace development. Designed by Thomas Bonnar and revised by David Cousin, the terrace was built between 1882 and 1884.

The building forms part of a predominantly 3-storey and basement, 28-bay classical terrace with a concave curved frontage that steps down toward the right. The overall composition comprises an 18-bay linking terrace flanked by advanced terminal pavilions: a 3-bay pavilion to the left (No 17) and a 4-storey and basement, 7-bay terminal pavilion to the right (Nos 26 and 27).

The exterior is executed in polished ashlar sandstone. The principal floor features V-jointed rustication, while the basement is finished in droved ashlar sandstone. Horizontal definition is provided by a base course, band courses between the basement and principal floor, between the principal and first floors, and cill courses at the first and second floors. The upper storeys are marked by corniced friezes at impost level at the principal floor of the terminal pavilions and cornices and blocking courses at the second and third floors. Ashlar steps and entrance platforms oversail the basement.

The principal (northeast) elevation of the linking terrace comprises 18 bays arranged as three 6-bay sections stepped down to the right. Nos 18 and 19 feature pairs of 9-panel timber doors with plate glass rectangular fanlights, accompanied by windows in the remaining bays at principal floor level, with regular fenestration above. Nos 20 to 25 have 9-panel timber doors with 2-pane rectangular fanlights (plate glass at Nos 21 and 25) placed in alternate bays at principal floor, again with windows in the intervening bays and regular fenestration above. A flagged basement area extends across this elevation.

The left terminal pavilion (No 17) on the northeast elevation displays giant order Ionic pilasters flanking the bays at first and second floors. A 9-panel timber door with plate glass rectangular fanlight sits in a round-arched recess centred at principal floor, with round-arched windows in the remaining bays at this level and regular fenestration above. A 3-bay gable returns to the southeast, featuring pairs of windows centred at principal floor and upper floors including the attic, with windows to the outer right at each level.

The right terminal pavilion (Nos 26 and 27) comprises 7 bays with a 3-bay advanced centre section. Ionic pilasters flank the central 3 bays at first and second floors, while panelled pilasters perform the same function at third-floor level. No 27 features a 9-panel timber door with a radial semicircular fanlight centred at principal floor, while No 26 has a 9-panel timber door with a 2-pane rectangular fanlight in a round-arched recess in the penultimate bay from the left at principal floor. Windows occupy round-arched recesses in the remaining bays at principal floor. The upper floors display regular fenestration with blind windows in the bay to the outer left at first floor and above. At first-floor level, the windows are architraved with cornices, those in the central bay being pedimented. Flagged basement areas are present.

The return elevation to Cornwallis Place of the north terminal pavilion comprises 5 bays (becoming numbers 5, 7, and 9 Cornwallis Place). A 9-panel timber door (No 7) with a 2-pane rectangular fanlight sits centred at basement, with a 9-panel timber door (No 9) with glazed upper panels and plate glass rectangular fanlight in the bay to the right of centre, and a 4-panel timber door (No 5) to the outer left, all at basement level. Windows occupy the remaining bays at basement. At principal floor, the bays flanking the centre feature small windows surmounted by 2-pane circular mezzanine windows. Narrow windows appear in the bays flanking the centre at first floor and above, with the remaining bays displaying architraved and corniced windows.

The windows throughout are predominantly 2-pane timber sash and case. The roofs are covered in grey slate and feature varied dormer treatments: a pair of panelled dormers surmounted by consoled pediments at No 17, polygonal panelled dormers at Nos 18 and 19, and combinations of panelled and polygonal panelled dormers at Nos 20, 22, 23, and 25. Cast-iron rainwater goods are fitted throughout. Stacks are constructed in broached ashlar and rendered at the ridge, wallhead, and gablehead, coped with circular cans.

The interiors were not inspected as of 1998.

Railings with ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with decorative finials define the property boundaries.