Basic Site Details Name: | Star Hotel | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | Demolished | Grid ref: | | Notes: | A building, to be designated the " Star Hotel," is in course of erection nearly opposite Waverley Bridge. It occupies the site of a plain tenement which lately formed Nos 33 and 34, and will include the premises marked Nos. 35 and 36 (partly the old Star Hotel), which will be ''absorbed," so to speak, by the design. The height of the new "Star," from the level of the pavement to the ridge of the roof, is about 70 feet. Architecturally, the building is a well developed, and, in many respects, elegant specimen of the Italian style. It comprises six stories—namely, a sunk floor; a range of shops on the line of street, with plate-glass windows, and character enough otherwise to enable them to rank as first-class; and four stories for hotel purposes. "The Star " will be entered from the street by a porch with pillars and entablature, and will contain upwards of 120 apartments. A series of parlours, running along the whole face of the edifice towards Princes' Street, with one large public room, will constitute the first-floor. These apartments have oriel windows, which will command uninterrupted views south, east, and west, including the Castle, the Gardens, the masses of the High-street, the Calton-hill, and the prominent objects at the west-end. Internally, the hotel is divided by two spacious staircases, each landing being in communication with a wide lobby, which serves as a link to the stairs. The remaining floors of the hotel contain principally bed-rooms, and each floor is tastefully furnished with baths of various kinds. Externally, the chief points in the design are the altitude and the oriels. The latter divide the building into three sections, and give dignity and character to the elevation. A richly-carved and very effective balcony surmounts the parlour-floor. Architraves and cornices, finished by pediments, form the dressings of the windows, which will all be filled with plate-glass. The building terminates in a balustrade, relieved at intervals by vases on pedestals. Towards Meuse-lane the hotel will present a plain elevation. The whole will bo built of polished ashlar, Binney stone being employed. Mr. Kennington, late of the firm of Kennington and Jenner, is the proprietor of the building. The architect is Mr. David Bryce, jun.; the builders, Messrs. William Beattie and Sons. We understand that the cost will be fully £10,000. [Building News 20 September 1861 p766] | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | C & A | | | | Edinburgh Hotel | | Name in 1888 | | Premises for Cranston and Elliot | | Use post-1920 |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Hotel | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | 32-38, Princes Street | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1861 | | | Original building (as Star Hotel) | | 1888 | | | Attic additions (as Edinburgh Hotel) | | 1907 | | | Detailed drawings for alterations for Messrs Cranston & Elliot by T D Rhind | | 1908 | | | Detailed drawings for alterations for Messrs Cranston & Elliot by Dunn and Findlay | | After 1920 | | | Unspecified work by T P Marwick & Son |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes | | Cranston and Elliot | Client for Marwick work | | Kennington | formerly of Kennington and Jenner, for original hotel |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Braidwood, Niall C | 1988 | Dunn and Findlay and The Scotsman Building | | RIBA Dissertation 1988 | p162 | | Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M | 1984 | Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) | | Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd | p71 | | Varga, Susan | 2007 | Images of Scotland, Edinburgh New Town | | Chalford: Tempus | p44 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Building News | 20 September 1861 | | | p766, from the Scotsman |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Dean of Guild | | Plans dated 2 February 1888 | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Drawings Collection | | DC/29753, 29754, Photographic copies at D/4954/P | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Dunn and Findlay Collection | | EDD/768/1-5, 22-35 | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | Thomas Waller Marwick: F no4470 (combined box 16) |
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