Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

55 PRINCES STREET, GREYFRIARS HOUSELB39591

Status: Designated

Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Category
C
Date Added
26/08/1977
Local Authority
Perth And Kinross
Planning Authority
Perth And Kinross
Burgh
Perth
NGR
NO 11859 23308
Coordinates
311859, 723308

Description

James Miller, 1924. Predominantly 2-storey and attic, L-plan, red brick block in late Stuart, Neo-Georgian manner, located in narrow lane at the W side of Princes Street. Regular fenestration. S (principal) Elevation: 7-bay with architraved and segmentally pedimented doorpiece to centre; moulded timber cornice; returning at W wing with 3 pairs of timber French doors to ground. Voussoired red-brick windowheads with pale sandstone ashlar keystones to ground; brick cills to 1st floor. E elevation: 3-bay with further projecting 3-storey corner tower to NE angle with chamfered stack and steeply pitched mansard roof. Further 3-storey, flat-roofed section to NW angle.

8 flat-roofed dormers on main block; 2 on west-wing. Further 8 on rear (N) elevation, all with multi-pane casement windows.

Predominantly 12-pane glazing to timber sash and case windows to principal elevations. Predominantly 8-pane glazing to irregularly fenestration rear (N) elevation and large stair window to centre. Grey slate. Tall brick coped end stack to W wing. Cast iron rainwater goods.

Statement of Special Interest

Greyfriars House is designed in a distinctive Neo-Georgian manner which is uncommon in the wider Perth area. Set back from the street at right angles with a courtyard to the front, it is characterised by its use of unusual purplish-red brick and simple classic Georgian treatment. The use of brick as a building material an a non-industrial context in Perth is unusual. It was built as a hostel for the homeless by prolific locally born architect James Miller (with Richard Gunn as chief assistant) for Lord Forteviot (John Alexander Dewar, Lord Provost of Perth and first of the Scottish 'Whiskey Barons'). Millar is best known for his many commercial Glasgow buildings. Greyfriars House was possibly the inspiration for the similar Model Lodging House in Skinnergate by Erskine Thomas and Glass (1927). A pram shed was added to the W elevation by Millar in 1925. Previously known as Princes Street House, the building continues to provide short-stay accommodation for homeless people.

List description updated at resurvey (2009).

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS, RIAS Collection: James Miller, Son & Manson Drawings Collection, 14 drawings. Evident on 2nd Edition Ornance Survey Map (1930-31). Nick Haynes, Perth & Kinross - An Illustrated Architectural Guide (2000), p25. John Gifford, The Buildings Of Scotland - Perth & Kinross (2007), p629. Dictionary of Scottish Architects, www.scottisharchitects.org.uk (accessed 15.01.09).

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check trove.scot for images relating to 55 PRINCES STREET, GREYFRIARS HOUSE

There are no images available for this record.

Search trove.scot

Printed: 01/04/2026 08:38