Acheson House, 140 Canongate, Edinburgh

1633-4. Restored 1936-7 by Neil and Hurd (see Notes). Interesting and important, 3-storey and attic, L-plan townhouse with forecourts to Canongate and Bakehouse Close screened by high walls. Rubble with chamfered sandstone dressings, crow-stepped gables, pedimented and finialed dormer windows breaking eaves, irregular fenestration and carved details.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: N ELEVATION (Canongate): 3-bay with central wall-head gable. Timber door with panel above to left. Timber balcony at 1st floor right adjoining wall of Huntley House, No 142 Canongate (see separate listing). W ELEVATION (Bakehouse Close): deeply moulded cill course at 1st floor. Studded timber door to NE angle with heavy roll-moulded architrave, broken pediment above dated 1633 with Acheson family crest and cypher. Further studded timber door opposite. Thistle and rose-finialled pediments with carved monograms. Walled L-plan courtyard with 2-leaf timber door to screenwall. Garden to rear with studded timber door and moulded surround to Bakehouse Close.

Variety of multi-pane timber sash and case windows. Steep pitch with thick, grey Scottish stone slate (nail-rot in evidence - 2007). Coped, gable stacks with moulded detailing. Clay cans. Predominantly cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: Ground floor with timber-beamed ceiling and large stone fireplace in former dining room. Curving stone stair with wrought-iron banister and acorn newel post to ground floor; timber stair (circa 1938) rising through all upper floors. Numerous large fireplaces, some with moulded lintels; smaller fireplaces to upper levels and attic rooms. 1st floor: moulded plasterwork ceiling with rose and thistle motif to former dining room. 2nd floor: 1938 scheme with timber panelled room with timber fire-surround, timber panelled ceiling with carved central crossed sword and sceptre motif surrounded by four crowns; further ceiling with painted foliate motif also part of 1938 restoration work. Studded timber doors to ground floor rooms of an early date, some with original wrought-iron latches.