1 Crown Terrace, Glasgow

This is a highly significant early example of a classical terrace, completed in 1858 by architect James Thompson. It forms a symmetrical U-plan arrangement, incorporating a curved 24-bay bow front (numbered 3 to 10 Crown Circus) and two-bay pavilions connecting to five-bay flanks at the north (15 and 17 Crown Road North) and south (1 and 2 Crown Terrace).

The building is constructed from polished ashlar, with channelled detailing at ground level and droved texture at basement level, all painted. It rises three storeys with attics and a basement. Basement windows are arched with prominent keystones. All windows have four-pane sashes.

The curved terrace of 24 bays is arranged as 9 bays, then a 6-bay central pavilion at numbers 6 and 7, then another 9 bays, with three bays serving each house. The ground floor openings are flanked by Roman Doric columns on pedestals, except at numbers 6 and 7, which have pilasters instead. Steps overhang the basement, leading to a doorpiece with a double-leaf door and a glazed fanlight; entrances are on the left at numbers 3 to 6 and on the right at numbers 7 to 10. The columns/pilasters support a full Doric entablature and a mutule cornice, serving as the base for a continuous ashlar balustraded balcony at the first floor. First and second floor windows are within lugged architraves, and corniced at the first floor.

The central pavilion continues the terrace's design, with paired window variations. Steps lead to paired central doorpieces. First floor windows are flanked by canted oriels with pierced parapets. The overall terrace is topped with a balustraded parapet with pedestals and urn finials, with piended dormers set behind.

The end pavilions have two bays facing the curved front, mirroring the main terrace detailing. The five-bay flanks feature two-storey canted windows in the outer bays, detailed similarly. At numbers 15 to 17 Crown Terrace, the balustrade is interrupted by round-headed dormers. Tall, corniced axial stacks rise from the roof, topped with octagonal cans.

The rear elevations are faced with coursed stugged ashlar and feature predominantly multi-pane glazing.

An ashlar balustraded parapet runs along the steps, supported by square, corniced ashlar piers. Decorative cast-iron railings enclose the basement area. The terrace stands on raised ground above the main road, with a low coped ashlar retaining wall and a wide staircase leading up to the carriageway, defined by tall, square, corniced piers linked by a retaining wall with pierced balustrading. Lower ashlar boundary walls define the gardens and lane, supporting spearhead cast-iron railings.