2 Forres Street, Edinburgh

2 Forres Street, Edinburgh

Designed by James Gillespie Graham in 1822, this is a large classical terrace of three storeys and basement, comprising nine bays in a bowed linking section flanked by four-storey and basement terminal pavilions. The building sits on falling ground. It is constructed in polished ashlar sandstone with V-jointed rustication at principal floor level. Decorative detailing includes a base course, band course between basement and principal floor, corniced frieze at impost level at the terminal pavilions, cill courses at first and second floors, and cornices with blocking courses at second-floor level of the linking block and third-floor level of the terminal pavilions. Ashlar steps and entrance platts oversail the basement.

The principal elevation of the linking terrace consists of three three-bay houses. Number 4 has a four-panel timber door with rectilinear-design rectangular fanlight in the bay to the right at principal floor. Numbers 6 and 8 have four-panel timber doors with rectilinear-design rectangular fanlights in bays to the left at principal floor. Windows occupy the remaining bays at principal floor, with regular fenestration to the floors above. The first-floor windows are architraved with cornices; the second-floor windows are architraved. A flagged basement area runs the length of this section.

The south terminal pavilion is positioned on a corner site and comprises a five-bay bowed angle flanked by a pair of advanced pavilions—a three-bay pavilion to the north and a four-bay pavilion to the west (numbered 1 and 2 St Colme Street, listed separately). Semi-engaged Doric columns flank the central three bays of the bowed angle, with Doric pilasters at the outer left and right. The advanced pavilion has an east elevation with Doric pilasters flanking bays at first and second floors and panelled pilasters at third-floor level. An infilled doorway with a six-pane window and radial semicircular fanlight appears in the bay to the outer left at principal floor. Windows in round-arched recesses with raised cills occupy the remaining bays at principal floor. Regular fenestration continues to the floors above, with architraved windows at third-floor level. A flagged basement area underlies this pavilion.

The north terminal pavilion is a five-bay pavilion with Doric pilasters flanking bays at first and second floors and panelled pilasters at third-floor level. A four-panel timber door with radial semicircular fanlight is centred at principal floor. Windows in round-arched recesses occupy the remaining bays at principal floor, with regular fenestration above. A flagged basement area underlies this pavilion. A four-bay Moray Place return to the north terminal pavilion becomes 43 Moray Place, listed separately.

The building features a variety of timber sash and case windows. Roofs are varied, including grey slate M-roofs and pavilion roofs, with a pair of box dormers at Number 4. Cast-iron rainwater goods are present throughout. Anthemion and palmette window guards appear in bays at first-floor level of the linking block, in bays to the left of centre of the north terminal pavilion, and in bays at first-floor level of the Moray Place return of the north terminal pavilion. Decorative window guards spanning three bays appear at the outer right and outer left of the south terminal pavilion. Ridge and wallhead stacks are constructed in a variety of broached ashlar and rendered materials, some with cornices and coped with circular cans.

The interiors were not seen at the time of survey in 1998.

Ashlar copes surmounted by cast-iron railings with fleur-de-lis and other decorative finials enclose the property.