26, 28 Bridge Street, Penicuik

This is a substantial complex of shops and tenements built in 1860 by F T Pilkington, designed in a distinctive "Rogue Gothic" style. It is arranged around a central courtyard, with the main blocks facing Bridge Street and plainer blocks to the rear (32-34 Bridge Street and 1-7 Park End). The building is constructed of squared and coursed sandstone, with rock-faced dressings, and red sandstone banding to the ground floor arches.

The western (principal) elevation, numbered 22-24 Bridge Street, is three bays wide and originally contained shops at ground level. It features a central doorway with later alterations. Segmental-arched windows with later timber mullions are situated on the ground floor in the flanking bays. A corbelled bipartite window sits at first floor in the bay to the left, and a round-headed bipartite window is positioned at first floor in the bay to the right. The south elevation has a single window at first floor to the outer right. The rear (east) elevation has a central segmental-arched doorway flanked by similar arched single windows, with lean-to sheds adjoining to the outer right. The north elevation is a blank gable.

A significant feature is the Moorish archway linking the buildings, inscribed with the words "PARK END". The western elevation of 26-28 Bridge Street has a four-bay facade with an arcaded entrance at the corner and an oriel window above. Segmental-arched openings mark the three-bay shop front, with a panelled door set within. Bipartite and single windows are located above. A substantial column with foliate capitals and open round arches flanks the corner, with a corbelled three-light oriel above, featuring dog-tooth moulding and red sandstone column mullions. The south elevation has a two-bay arcaded entrance to the left, with two round arches: the left arch has been infilled with a single window and a prominent corbelled wallhead stack sits above, while the right arch remains open. A chamfered angle is present at the north-western ground floor corner, with a segmental-arched doorway and a single window above. The east elevation was not visible during a 1999 inspection.

The south (principal) elevation of 32-34 Bridge Street is recessed and lacks dormers, with an advanced bay to the outer right. Segmental-arched bipartite windows are positioned to the outer left and right, above which is a bipartite window. Window placement between the outer bays is irregular. The north and east elevations also have an irregular distribution of openings.

The buildings at 1-7 Park End have a near L-shaped layout. They display a regular arrangement of single and bipartite windows on both floors, alongside a central pend and entrance stair. A bracketed timber projection extends from the re-entrant southeast angle.

Most of the original window glazing remains at first floor level in the main blocks, consisting of plate glass upper sashes over two-pane lower sashes. Rear blocks have 12-pane timber sash and case windows. The roofs are covered with purple-grey Welsh slate, featuring idiosyncratic corniced multi-flue ridge and gable stacks, along with cast-iron rainwater goods. The interiors were not inspected in 1999.