Society Of Solicitors' Library, 94-116 Cowgate, Edinburgh

The Society of Solicitors’ Library, located at 94-116 Cowgate in Edinburgh, is a 6-storey, 10-bay building dating from 1888 to 1892, designed by James Bow Dunn. It serves as an addition to the Supreme Courts of Scotland and houses the Solicitors Library hall on its upper levels.

The building is constructed in a Scots Baronial style. The sixth floor is built of red sandstone ashlar with elaborate mouldings and dressings, featuring large, projecting oriel windows with mullions and transoms. Other notable external features include a castellated parapet, a crocketed octagonal turret with stone gargoyles at the southwest angle, and a crowstepped gable to the hall roof, topped with large, bifurcated stacks. The lower floors exhibit a different appearance; the south elevation is of squared and snecked rubble with red sandstone ashlar dressings, featuring regularly spaced red ashlar pilasters and in-and-out quoins at the first to third floors. A recessed entrance is centrally located, flanked by pairs of two-leaf timber doors. The west elevation has irregular window placement and a pedimented inscription panel between the third and fourth floors. A variety of glazing is present, including 15-pane timber sash and case windows, and leaded windows with a diamond pattern. The roof is covered in grey slate, with tall, twin end stacks and shouldered wallhead stacks to the north and south elevations between the oriels, topped with clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods are also present.

The interior library hall is lavishly decorated; a pedimented doorpiece leads to a main hall with a partially-glazed, vaulted ceiling featuring hanging bosses and ornamental plasterwork. The space includes a timber mezzanine level with cast-iron railings, and Jacobean pilastered, arcaded carrels with consoled and keystoned arches. A panelled frieze with garlands and swags, a dentiled cornice, large round-arched stained glass windows to the east and west, and flanking statuettes are also incorporated. Two richly ornamented cast-iron and copper chandeliers illuminate the hall. An Advocate’s rest room is located in the southeast corner, featuring a corner bay recess and fine ribbed plasterwork to the ceiling. A substantial hardwood staircase is present, incorporating oversized carved timber newels and turned bannisters, as well as a leaded and stained glass window inscribed "Erskine Stair."

The ground to fourth floor levels, originally at basement level to Cowgate, have been substantively refurbished and altered for use as accommodation.