NAMED after George Drummond, the visionary Lord Provost who set in motion the construction of the Georgian New Town in Edinburgh, Drummond Place is less pompous than Moray Place and Charlotte Square. Built by Robert Reid and Thomas Bonnar, it is a series of symmetrical blocks built between 1806 and 1823.

Flat 39a Drummond Place is a modernised ground floor flat in a handsome, stone-built quadrant; it offers not only a conveniently central location but an opportunity to boast about illustrious former neighbours. No. 38, for instance, was the home of Adam Black who produced early editions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, while in No. 31 novelist Sir Compton Mackenzie used to hold court in a house crammed with 12,000 books.

The flat has one bedroom and represents an affordable chance to live at a prestigious city centre address. The hallway is shared by other residents of the four-storey property. There's a wall niche for classical sculpture, lovely plasterwork, and Ionic pillars.

Inside the drawing room (25' 7'' by 17' 2'') there is further decorative plasterwork in the form of a ceiling rose of acanthus leaves and a pretty cornice. Full length twin windows allow for generous light. The white marble fireplace with coal-effect gas fire has an unusual brass basket and fender. The sale includes the Persian rugs in this room and in the bedroom.

The property has been renovated by the owner before he put it on the market. He has transformed the original bathroom into a highly contemporary, split-level layout in blue mosaic, incorporating corner bath, bidet, and downlighters. In the kitchen, he has installed white, Shaker-style storage units with glazed display sections. These are offset by warm beech worktops. There is a view from the window of the attractive garden belonging to the basement property, and the sale includes kitchen appliances such as dishwasher and washer-dryer. Electrics throughout the flat are new.

In the very spacious bedroom, there is another period fireplace. This room is bow-ended with dado panelling and two curved wall presses. The absence of any built-in bedroom furniture affords the property an unusual degree of flexibility: drawing room and bedroom are interchangeable with dining space a possibility in either.

The hall contains three large wall cupboards, one with sufficient hanging space to serve as a cloakroom. Front-facing windows overlook the well-maintained gardens of Drummond Place.

Midway between Dublin Street and London Street, this property is within easy walking distance of Waverley Station and city centre offices and shops. Drummond Place forms one of the two balancing squares of the second New Town and is an area embraced by the ''arty'' community.

Offers over #118,000. Viewing by appointment with DTZ Debenham Thorpe - 0131 459 2222.