14 Swanston Village, Edinburgh

13 and 14 Swanston Village is made up of five single storey cottages (converted into one) that sit within a small group of early to mid-18th century thatched cottages at the foot of the Pentland Hills on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The cottages were refurbished around 1959-62 by J Wilson Paterson for the Edinburgh Corporation. Number 13 has late 20th century alteration and number 14 has early 21st century alterations. It forms part of the west side of the group.

It is built on a long rectangular-plan of eight bays with a lower, two-bay and gabled outshot projecting from the south side of the east elevation. The entrance elevation faces east and has a pattern of paired doors and single windows, indicating the five separate cottages. There are also small ventilator windows. The cottages are rendered and painted random rubble on rough rubble foundations with deeply recessed window margins.

The window openings are small with timber sash and case frames with horns and a predominantly nine-pane glazing pattern. The doors are vertical boarded timber with small rectangular glazed panels. That to the far left opens outwards and forms a shutter to an inner glazed door. The roof is thatched in reed and covered in chicken wire, with a concrete ridge and stone skews. There are squared concrete gable and ridge chimney stacks with plain clay cans and cast iron rainwater goods.

The interior was seen in 2017 and predominantly has early 21st century detailing. There are simple stone fire surrounds dating to the late 18th century. The thick internal cross walls between the former cottages and deep window cills are evident in the room layout. There is an late 20th century staircase leading to the converted roof space.