Description

Early to mid 18th century. 3-storey, 7-bay tenement with central projecting polygonal stairtower, converted to flats by Nicholas Groves-Raines, 1981-2. Harled rubble with chamfered margins. Central crowstepped chimney gable to rear (Niddry Street). Late 20th century piended dormers.

Statement of Interest

This is a good example of a surviving early Edinburgh tenement building, which is likely to date to the early or mid 18th century and which is situated on sloping ground in a steeply inclined street rising up from the Cowgate.

The building has simple detailing in the chamfered margins, polygonal stair tower and crowstepped gable and, although altered, it is a significant element in the streetscape and character of this part of the Old Town of Edinburgh. Before the building of the South Bridge (see separate listing) in 1786, much of the Old Town in this area consisted of narrow, sloping streets lined with tall tenement buildings such as this one.

List description revised as part of Edinburgh Holyrood Ward resurvey 2007-08.

Statutory address updated (2015). Previously listed as '16-20 (even nos) Robertson's Close'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17805365

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

• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair