Stable block, Redford cavalry barracks, Colinton Road, Edinburgh

Stable Block, Redford Cavalry Barracks, Colinton Road, Edinburgh

This is a large and imposing cavalry barracks complex comprising a principal 3-storey block built between 1909 and 1915, designed by architect Harry B Measures, with twelve associated stable blocks arranged to either side. The buildings occupy a prominent position set back from the parade ground towards the east of the extensive barracks site.

The main barracks block is built to a T-plan with 57 bays, incorporating attics to the gables and end bays, and contains 9 internal courtyards. It is constructed of dark, coursed rock-faced rubble with pale ashlar dressings, and features channelled ashlar at the ground floor. A base course, band courses at all floors, and an eaves course provide horizontal articulation. The windows have projecting cills, and the courtyard elevations include some advanced gables with round-arched openings at ground level and regular fenestration above.

The principal northwest elevation is the most elaborate. It features an advanced central entrance bay crowned by a tall copper-domed clock-tower. The long flanking wings terminate in advanced square end-pavilions with pavilion roofs. Between the entrance bay and end pavilions stand advanced 3-bay sections with triangular bays at ground level, recessed arcaded balconies at first and second floors, and Dutch gables with Diocletian windows at attic level. Smaller advanced 2-window bays with large canted windows at ground level are topped by semicircular pediments with flanking finials. Alternating wide and narrow round-arched, key-blocked openings punctuate the ground floor. Both ends display Dutch gabled bays with triangular chimney breasts corbelled out at first floor level.

The principal entrance is contained within an advanced gabled porch with flanking octagonal buttresses topped by hemispherical caps. A carved lion rampant sits on a pedestal at the apex of the gable above the doorway. The clock tower above features similar octagonal corner buttresses rising from the first floor, a circular clock face at third floor level, and an octagonal domed belfry with round-arched openings. The side elevations are symmetrical, with advanced square end pavilions to the southeast and two advanced 3-bay sections featuring Dutch gables and arcaded balconies to the first and second floors. A central single-storey section extends to the rear.

Windows are predominantly timber sash and case windows with small multi-pane glazing to the upper sashes and 2-pane glazing to the lower sashes, with timber casement windows at ground floor level. The roof is finished in grey graded slates with raised skews.

The interior, observed in 2016, contains several stone dog-leg staircases with cast iron railings serving all floors. Dormitories occupy the upper floors. Wide corridors on the ground floor connect the rooms to the courtyards, some retaining anchor hooks on the walls. A former cinema occupies part of the ground floor, distinguished by a segmental-arched roof. Within the courtyard is a canteen area featuring part-fluted Ionic iron columns and a raised section with a dentilled proscenium arch.

The twelve stable blocks arranged in two groups of six to the southwest and northeast are gabled structures with flat-roofed extensions. They share the same material palette of dark coursed rock-faced rubble with pale ashlar dressings, and feature timber-boarded doors and ridge vents. Small high-level bipartite windows and some Diocletian windows to the gables provide light. Internally, these blocks have been converted to storage use, and some retain cobbled floors.