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 Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 3C & A  
Item 2 of 3Edinburgh Hotel Name in 1888
Item 3 of 3Premises for Cranston and Elliot Use post-1920

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Hotel  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 132-38, Princes StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 51861  Original building (as Star Hotel)
Item 2 of 51888  Attic additions (as Edinburgh Hotel)
Item 3 of 51907  Detailed drawings for alterations for Messrs Cranston & Elliot by T D Rhind
Item 4 of 51908  Detailed drawings for alterations for Messrs Cranston & Elliot by Dunn and Findlay
Item 5 of 5After 1920  Unspecified work by T P Marwick & Son

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 10David Bryce (junior)  1861 Original building, as Star Hotel
Item 2 of 10David MacGibbon B1888 Attic additions
Item 3 of 10MacGibbon & Ross B1888 Attic additions
Item 4 of 10Thomas Ross B1888 Attic additions
Item 5 of 10(Sir) Thomas Duncan Rhind C1907 Alterations
Item 6 of 10James Bow Dunn D1908 Alterations
Item 7 of 10T P Marwick & Son EAfter 1920 Unspecified work for Messrs Cranston & Elliot
Item 8 of 10Thomas Craigie Marwick EAfter 1920 Unspecified work for Messrs Cranston & Elliot
Item 9 of 10Thomas Purves Marwick EAfter 1920 Possibly involved in unspecified work
Item 10 of 10Thomas Waller Marwick EAfter 1920 Unspecified work for Messrs Cranston & Elliot

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 2Cranston and ElliotClient for Marwick work
Item 2 of 2Kenningtonformerly of Kennington and Jenner, for original hotel

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Braidwood, Niall C1988Dunn and Findlay and The Scotsman Building RIBA Dissertation 1988p162
Item 2 of 3Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdp71
Item 3 of 3Varga, Susan2007Images of Scotland, Edinburgh New Town Chalford: Tempusp44

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building News20 September 1861  p766, from the Scotsman

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 4Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild Plans dated 2 February 1888
Item 2 of 4National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection DC/29753, 29754, Photographic copies at D/4954/P
Item 3 of 4National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDunn and Findlay Collection EDD/768/1-5, 22-35
Item 4 of 4RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Thomas Waller Marwick: F no4470 (combined box 16)