Vertical House
Renovation of Historic Building in Montrose
74 High Street
Completed 2018
This land-locked vertical building with a tiny footprint sits prominently in the conservation area of Montrose High Street. The house has a gable end facing the street, which is a famous feature of the town. Only four original and unaltered ‘gable-enders’ still exist in Montrose High Street.
The derelict four-storey building had a Fishmonger’s shop on the Ground Floor and three stories of living accommodation above. The shop had been empty for 7 years and the flats above for over 40 years, with water pouring down the four floors from the valley gutters unchecked. Externally the building was run-down and a blight on the street. The building was made watertight initially and then carefully restored from the top down. The shop at ground level was re-opened as an Ice-Cream shop, and the two flats above were restored back to one townhouse with three bedrooms.
A minimum intervention approach was adopted, with the only additions being a kitchen and a bathroom. Original features to the house were retained, significantly the unusual plan form with a spiral stair running the full height of the building encircled by a curved wall. The timber paneling in the main rooms, sash & case windows, and sculptural lime plasterwork were all retained and restored. The result is a unique townhouse, which has been saved for the enjoyment of future generations.
Credit: Barrie Morton Photographer
