Greyfriars Hostel, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 Cowgate, Edinburgh

Greyfriars Hostel, located at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 Cowgate in Edinburgh, was designed by Ebenezer J McRae in 1930. This five-storey and attic tenement and hostel has twelve bays and is angled to the street. The ground floor features rough-cut ashlar, while the upper levels are constructed of rubble with polished dressings. A cill band separates the ground floor from the first floor, and there is a dividing band between these two levels.

The left side consists of a five-bay block with a door on the left and a stair opening to the right, both framed in roll-moulded surrounds. The block is regularly fenestrated, with narrow windows in the outer right bay and two two-window wallhead nepus gables. The central section has a three-bay block, while the right side has a four-bay block, both of which are also regularly fenestrated. The outer bays of the right block feature narrow windows, and each block has two piend-roofed dormers. There is a door with a shoulder-arched surround on the outer right.

The windows are timber sash and case with 12-pane glazing, although modern glazing has been installed on the ground floor. The roof is covered with grey slates, and there are corniced end stacks with circular cans.