Description

Robert Adam, 1791; largely built 1803-7; early 20th century attics. Symmetrical 3-storey basement and attic 17-bay neo-classical palace block formerly consisting of 6 individual houses; 1 of pair flanking former St George's church (now West Register House, see separate listing). Polished cream sandstone ashlar. Rock-faced basement; V-jointed rustication at ground floor with impost course where appropriate; cill course to 1st and 2nd floors; cornice and blocking course.

E (CHARLOTTE SQUARE) ELEVATION: slightly projecting 5-bay centrepiece with tetrastyle porch at centre (with single door remaining, formerly pair) surmounted by large tripartite window with Ionic columns and massive glazed fanlight, outer bays flanked by Ionic columns with balustrades between column bases; fluted frieze with blank panel at centre. End pavilions with giant pilasters to upper floors; arched tripartite doorways to inner bays (original metal fanlight to No 17); at 1st floor, tripartite window at centre in round-arched recess; pyramidal roof to N Pavilion, S pavilion with full pilastered attic storey. Inner 3 bays arcaded at ground with rectangular windows and arched tripartite doorways. Ashlar attic also added at No 16, continuous slate hung corniced attics at Nos 13, 14 and 15.

Irregular gabled rubble end elevations, that to S with later timber oriel at centre. Full attic storey to rear. No 17 with rebuilt canted rear elevation, and link to 2- and 3-storey offices.

Timber 12-pane sash and case windows; centrepiece and S pavilion at 1st floor with 15-pane. Corniced ashlar stacks; grey slates.

INTERIOR: No 17 has enriched ceilings to former Dining and Drawing Rooms. Remainder unseen 1995.

10-18 RANDOLPH LANE: Mews to 15-17 Charlotte Square. 2-storey ranges set at oblique angle, linked by high rubble screen wall with scooped coping. Forestair to S block with M-gabled N return elevation and 1st floor bipartites to E. Forecourt with semicircular coped rubble screen wall. N range with obliquely angled W gable and run of garage doors to N below regular timber 12-pane sash and case windows. All with stone stacks and grey slates.

RAILINGS, LAMP STANDARDS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: cast-iron spearhead railings and original lamp standards; rubble boundary walls to rear.

Statement of Interest

Sir William Fettes lived at No 13, and Lord Cockburn at No 14. The attic at No 17 balances that at No 18 (see separate listing). By the time these blocks were built the feuers had gained permission to lower the cills of the 1st floor rooms, the only alterations to Adam's designs allowed; some of these cills have now been returned to Adam's intended level. The mews buildings to the rear of this range have survived with remarkably few alterations.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17567612

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
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  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
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  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
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  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)