Sharp's Institution, 6, 8 South Methven Street, Perth, Perth, Perth and Kinross

Entry Name: Sharp's Institution, 6, 8 South Methven Street, Perth

Listing Name: 6 and 8 South Methven Street (Former Sharp's Institute)

Listing Date: 26 August 1977

Category: B

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 384974

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB39335

Building Class: Cultural

Also known as: Perth, 6, 8 South Methven Street, Sharp's Institution

ID on this website: 200384974

Location: Perth

County: Perth and Kinross

Town: Perth

Electoral Ward: Perth City Centre

Traditional County: Perthshire

Tagged with: Architectural structure

Description

David Smart 1860. 2-storey, and attic, 9-bay, symmetrical, Italianate former educational institution with advanced, 4-stage central square-plan clock tower and recessed, single-storey wings to N and S (currently restaurant and bar, 2009). Coursed rubble with polished ashlar margins and raised rusticated quoins. Base course, band course, eaves band and overhanging eaves. Raised architraves; lugged at 1st storey. Round-arched, key-stoned openings to ground. Pair of small, segmental-arched pedimented dormers to bays flanking tower.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: advanced central tower, rusticated to ground and with pedimented Doric doorway with panelled 2-leaf timber leaf entrance door. Tripartite windows to 2 stages above. Top stage with central, recessed clock panel and corbelled cornice. Flanking, recessed single bays with 2-light windows with stone mullions to 1st storey. Flanking end bays.

Predominantly 6-over 6-pane and 4-over 4-pane timber sash and case windows. Piended roofs to end bays, low pyramidal roof to tower with ball finial. Grey slates. Ridge stacks. Cast iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: (seen 2009). Interior comprehensively modernised.

Statement of Interest

This is a prominent, well detailed Italianate building, dating from 1860 with a fine clock tower, which adds significantly to the streetscape of this area of Perth. Set back from the road and with open space to the front, the building has a considerable presence.

It was originally built as a school with a bequest from a Perth banker, John Sharp. The school opened in September 1860 and was able to take 450 pupils. Sharp left special instructions that the school was to make special provision for the branches of education which were particularly suitable for girls. The school amalgamated with Perth Academy in 1915, and it housed the Lower School until 1932. The building was later used as Council offices.

David Smart (1824-1914) was a Perth based architect. In his early years, he worked in the office of David Bryce. David Smart designed a large number of buildings in the centre of Perth at the end of the 19th century.

List description updated as part of Perth Burgh resurvey, 2010.

External Links

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