A pend is a covered passageway passing through or underneath part of a building. The term is particularly common in Scotland and pends are a familiar feature of Edinburgh's historic tenements and other traditional urban buildings.
In Edinburgh, a pend often connects the street with a rear garden, courtyard, outbuilding or communal area. Depending on the age and construction of the property, it may feature stone walls, traditional paving, timber gates, arches or other original architectural details.
Because a pend can form part of the shared fabric and access arrangements of a building, proposed alterations may require more consideration than work entirely contained within an individual flat. Its walls or structure may also form part of the building above.
For renovation work, understanding whether an area forms part of a pend can therefore be relevant when considering structural alterations, external joinery, doors, lighting, drainage and repairs to traditional masonry.
