Historic site being brought back to life
Work started on renovating 19th Century tenement
An early 19th Century building in Perth city centre is being returned to its former glory by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust.
The historic C-listed tenement at 36 Princes Street is one of the oldest buildings in the city centre, and work is currently ongoing to repair and renovate it back to a usable condition.
The heritage trust is carrying out the “substantial” conservation work as they say the building is of historical significance to the Fair City and noteworthy in terms of Princes Street’s “eclectic” character.
Some of the unique features of the tenement building include its ground floor fascia of alternating timber pilasters and plate glass, with a long, uninterrupted dentilled cornice.
The conservation works at the city centre building have been ongoing since July last year, with the team at the heritage trust working to repair the building’s rear elevation and remove cement render from its masonry.
The team behind the transformation is also tasked with repairing historic masonry using lime mortar, and repairing sash and case windows on the ground level.
Part of the renovation also includes repairing the cast iron gutters and downpipes and water damaged plaster and panelling in the building’s stairwell.
This comes after the heritage trust was awarded £838,000 from the Perth City Heritage Fund to enhance the designated conservation areas in the city centre and in Kinnoull.
The works at Princes Street are part of a range of conservation projects the trust has been carrying out with this funding since 2012.
All of the conservation works and repairs to the building are being undertaken using traditional materials to keep the historic features.
Isabella Bruce, chairperson of 36 Princes Street’s owners’ association, said she was pleased to see the work beginning on the building.
She said: “I am delighted that the renovation work is now under way after years of trying to find a way to make it happen.”
Yesterday, the team at Perth and Kinross
Representatives of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, Perth Civic Trust, the contractors, 36 Princes Street Owners’Association and local councillors visited the site Heritage Trust gave city centre councillors Chris Ahern, Peter Barrett, Eric Drysdale and Andrew Parrott a guided tour of the extensive renovation.
Cllr Stewart Donaldson, a trustee of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust and a SNP councillor for Strathearn, said: “This is an important project.
“The city heritage fund plays a key role in restoring and renovating buildings throughout Perth, yet, much remains to be done.
“The real impact of a project such as this is not just on a standalone but on a cumulative basis, in giving back the urban landscape we cherish.”
The heritage trust will now look to apply for further funding in the next phase of grants from Perth City Heritage Fund for the next phase of work.