5 Rutland Square, Edinburgh

This is a substantial, 21-bay town house terrace forming part of the southeast side of Rutland Square, Edinburgh. Constructed around 1830-1840 for John Tait, with later additions including attic dormers, the building is built of droved sandstone ashlar at basement level, polished sandstone ashlar above with polished dressings, and coursed stugged sandstone to the sides. A prominent band course separates the basement from the ground floor and the ground floor from the first floor. A distinctive Saltire-cross pattern cast-iron balcony is positioned at the first floor level of each three-bay group.

The principal northwest elevation displays a regularly spaced arrangement, with deeply recessed timber panelled doors incorporating large rectangular fanlights at ground floor level. Most bays feature windows at ground and basement levels, with a segmental-arched doorway containing a three-pane fanlight in the basement of one section. The upper floors have regular window arrangements.

The northeast elevation features a corniced and architraved doorpiece, later blocked except for the fanlight. Centred windows are positioned at each floor above, with a smaller window to the left at each level. The southwest elevation shows a centrally placed architraved door, now converted into a window at ground floor level, alongside two evenly spaced windows at the first floor and a centered window at the second. Three evenly spaced attic windows are above, with the remains of truncated wallhead stacks. The southeast elevation was not visible in 2000.

The building features 2 and 12-pane timber sash and case windows, and a grey slate roof with coped skews. Grey slate roof; coped skews. The northeast and southwest elevations have coped and repaired ashlar wallhead stacks, many retaining original moulded octagonal cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods are present. The interior has not been inspected since 2000.

Spear-headed cast-iron railings, mounted on ashlar copes, surround the property, with pine cone terminals to the basement steps (many now missing). Cast-iron railing-mounted lamps, featuring glass globes, are positioned to the right of the steps for each three-bay group.