Andrew Crosbie (1736-1785) was a lawyer and antiquary. He practised in both civil and criminal law, was a founding member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and a founding Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was elected Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates just two months before his death. Thanks to his success, he was able to build his own townhouse in Edinburgh New Town, in St Andrew Square in c.1768-9 next to the mansion house of Sir Lawrence Dundas. Crosbie was a partner of the bank Douglas, Heron & Co. at Ayr and was financially ruined following the bank’s crash in 1772. Crosbie was close friends with James Boswell, Samuel Johnson and David Hume and formed the inspiration for the character ‘Paulus Pleydell’ in Sir Walter Scott’s 1815 novel Guy Mannering. Although Crosbie had a successful career, he was alcohol-dependant and died impoverished.

In 1768, Andrew Crosbie bought a plot of land on the east side of St Andrew Square to build his own townhouse and asked Robert Adam to make the designs. From the eight drawings within the Soane Collection, it is clear that Adam made a series of alternative designs for Crosbie, providing different options for the front, side and rear elevations, and the number of staircases internally. One design for the front elevation was executed with some minor omissions and variations (SM Adam volume 29/121). It is not clear if the interior was carried out to an Adam design.

In 1781, the design for No. 35 was replicated on the opposite side of the courtyard of Dundas House, at No. 37 St Andrew Square by John Young to designs by James Craig, architect of the New Town. It has recently been argued that Craig was responsible for the design of No. 35 as well as No. 37, and that Adam had ‘lost this commission’ (Gow, p. 216). However, it is clear, from the drawing (SM Adam volume 29/121), that Adam was involved in the design of No. 35 St Andrew Square. The presence of typical Adam motifs such as the fluted frieze with enclosed rosettes, string-coursing with Vitruvian scroll and balustraded steps (also used in his other elevation) suggest that this drawing is a design proposal and not a survey drawing. Interestingly, there is also an alternative drawing on the verso which is the same as another drawing (SM Adam volume 29/120). However, the general arrangement of the elevation differs from Adam’s usual style and it may be that he was guided by the client, or perhaps another architect or builder such as James Craig. Indeed, the giant order resembles another design by Craig for Crawford Priory in Fife. If Craig was involved, it is not clear how or when he was appointed.

When No. 35 was executed, parts of Adam’s designs were omitted including the string coursing and doorway, and other additions were made including flaring volute capitals on the outer pilasters. These capitals are not in the Adam-style and were probably an addition made by someone else, possibly James Craig.

The property was sold several times and later converted into a hotel by William Dumbreck in 1806. This hotel became famous in the New Town and was often referenced in literature such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1897 novel St Ives. In 1819, the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) bought No. 35 along with No. 34, to turn into their new premises and Archibald Elliot was instructed to make several internal and external alterations, including a large extension to the rear. It later reverted back into a hotel and was further enlarged in 1865 by the architectural firm Peddie & Kinnear. It was used as an insurance office from 1878-1968 for the Scottish Union and National Insurance Company. It was restored in 1989 by Ben Tindall Architects.

Literature: A.T. Bolton, The Architecture of Robert and James Adam, Volume II, Index, 1922, p. 12; D. King, The Complete Works of Robert & James Adam and Unbuilt Adam, Volume 2, 2001, p. 125; I. Lustig, ‘Andrew Crosbie (1736-1785)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online, 2014; I. Gow, ‘Fit for an Empress: Imperial Staircase in Edinburgh’, Country Life, September 13, 1990, pp. 216-217; Historic Scotland, ’35 St Andrew Square’, online

Louisa Catt, 2023