158, 160, 162, 164 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh

This is a substantial three-storey tenement built in 1864 by Frederick T Pilkington, situated on Fountainbridge in Edinburgh. The building's design reflects a distinctive mid-Victorian style, executed in squared and snecked rockfaced rubble with bullfaced dressings. A decorative corbel course and overhanging decorative eaves contribute to the building’s ornate appearance, further enhanced by florid naturalistic carving to capitals and brackets, and chamfering and capitals to the upper parts of the window surrounds. Dormer windows are framed by twisted wooden balusters, while large shop windows are located at ground level.

The south-east elevation, facing Fountainbridge, is eight bays wide, grouped as 2-3-3. A shop window marks the outer left side, with timber and glass doors situated within the two bays to the left. Shouldered segmental arches provide arched wooden fittings and three-pane fanlights above the doors. The first floor features single arched windows, while the second floor has two sets of windows. The central three bays feature a large square glass window at ground level, adjacent plate glass windows under a shouldered arch, and an arched pedestrian doorway. A timber door leads into the building, with single windows above on the first floor. The second-floor features a relieving arch, a carved floriated panel at centre, and a pair of bipartite windows divided by carved columnar mullions, linked by a relieving arch. A wallhead stack marks the dormer windows. To the outer right, an arched pedestrian doorway leads alongside two shouldered segmental arches framing windows. The corner with Grove Street is chamfered, featuring a two-leaf panelled timber door within a polished ashlar surround, accented with three elaborate brackets supporting the upper floors. Tripartite single windows with aprons are positioned on the first and second floors.

The north-east elevation, facing Grove Street, presents a three-bay façade. Plate glass shop windows are featured in two bays, sheltered by shouldered segmental arches. A round-arched pedestrian doorway with a timber door is situated to the right, complemented by decorative brackets below an advanced wallhead stack, with quoins and long and short surrounds to the stack. A single window is positioned on the first floor, with a pair of windows aligned above the second floor, and a single window at attic level.

The windows are timber sash and case, featuring three- and six-pane glazing. Coped stacks with corniced cans are present, along with cast-iron rainwater goods, and a grey slate roof, piended above a mansard.