17 West Brighton Crescent, Portobello, Edinburgh

John Baxter of Portobello, circa 1824. Mirrored pair of rectangular-planned classical houses, 2-storey with basement to rear, 6-bay with single storey flanking pavilions (circa 1970 to No 19), slightly set back. Polished ashlar to ground and 1st floor, channelled at ground; rendered (No 17), droved ashlar (No 19) to basement and to extension to SE; square rendered extension to NW; harled SE elevation, rubble to NW and to rear of both. Band course between ground level and floor, also between ground and 1st floor; cill course to 1st floor; cornice and blocking course; coping to extensions.

NE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: steps (5 steps to No 17; 4 steps to No 19), with original cast-iron handrail to deep-set panelled doors in outer bays, rectangular plate glass fanlight and windows at 1st floor above. Windows to each floor of intermediate bays. Blinded window and door to extension to SE; garage door to extension to NW.

SW (REAR) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; advanced in front of No 19; boarded door to centre at basement, small window above at ground; window at 1st floor above. Blinded window at ground at bay to right; window at 1st floor above. Window at basement and 1st floor of bay to left; modern glazed door to ground with multi-paned rectangular fanlight above; modern timber staircase to garden level. Rendered ( possibly later) extension to outer right. Cast-iron balcony at 1st floor. No 19: not seen fully, 1994; extension at bay to right; window to ground to immediate left; windows to 1st floor, outer bays.

12-pane timber sash and case windows, 4-pane timber sash and case window to centre of rear elevation of No 19. Piended grey slate roof with platform to apex. Mono-pitched roof to extensions to side of No 17 and to rear of No 19. Harled and coped mutual stacks to front and rear; rendered wallhead stack to SE; harled shouldered stack to rear of SE elevation.

INTERIORS: cornices still in place to No 17, along with most of the shutters; black marble fireplace in front right room; cast iron banister to staircase, original ceiling rose to 1st floor room to rear, left; heavy plasterwork using classical motifs to vestibule. Interior to No 19 not seen, 1994.

BOUNDARY WALLS: rendered and coped to front of No 17, formerly with railings; droved ashlar with coping to No 19. Tall rubble garden walls to rear.