20 York Place

Mid 19th century. 2-storey, 3-bay, piend and platform-roofed pair of semi-detached classically-detailed villas, No 20 with plaque recording birthplace of John Buchan (see Notes). Prominently sited on principal route into Perth town centre with paired entrance bay incorporating corniced and pilastered doorpiece forming porch below unusual square-plan bracketted tripartite window. Canted windows with engaged Doric columns at angles to outer bays. Stugged ashlar with broad polished pilaster strips, squared and snecked rubble with stugged quoins to sides and rear, and polished dressings. Deep base course, eaves cornice and stepped blocking course. Raised margins lugged at 1st floor N.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: principal elevation to N with centre bay porch comprising deep-set part-glazed panelled timber door with 2-part fanlight at left and modern door with 2-part fanlight at right screened by later door, both below advanced tripartite window incorporating blind centre light and further narrow window to each return. Flanking bays each with dominant canted window at ground and single window at 1st floor.

6-, 9-pane and plate glass glazing patterns in timber sash and case windows. Grey slates. Dominant shouldered and coped stacks, that to E partly rebuilt in brick and with some cans, that to W truncated.

INTERIOR: some good interior detail retained including panelled timber shutters and plain and decorative plasterwork mouldings. No 18 with scroll-consoled arch and timber-balustered staircase, No 20 with curved staircase and decorative cast iron railings, etched glazing to stair light and marble fire surround with cast iron grate.