Peter Lyall House

This house was built in red sandstone, a stone imported from Scotland really appreciated by the owner / builder. The medieval type sculptures are the work of Henry Beaumont. This home designed by architect John James Browne has one of the most spectacular facades of the Golden Square Mile.

Upon his arrival in Montreal, Mr. Lyall work for his cousin Peter Nicholson. A few years later in 1876, he founded the Peter Lyall & Son Construction Co, a business he lead with two of his son. He was a construction contractor active in Montreal and participated in the construction of several large buildings in Montreal to name the Customs Building, the Municipal Court of Montreal, the headquarters of the Grand Trunk Railway Company, the New York Life Insurance Company Building and the Royal Victoria College. His company was responsible for rebuilding of the Palace of Parliament in Ottawa after the 1916 fire.

Peter Lyall was born in Scotland in 1841 and died in Montreal in 1913. Despite the time spent in his company, he had time to make a short career of two years as an city council and also already tried to get elected in a federal elections. He also contributed to many companies like the Lachine Rapids Hydraulic and Land Co. and the Savings Bank of Mont-Royal. He served also as president of Western Hospital and the Verdun Hospital.

Originally, the house was surrounded by a large site used for the storage of various building materials. After the death of Mr Lyall and a few years after his wife had moved, the building was divided into 12 units by architect Joseph Sayer. Despite the renovations a beautiful fireplace mantel designed by Henry Beaumont and a starirway were preserved.

This building has a neo-Romanesque architectural style characterized by his deep arched openings. Note that another analysis can be made. Guy Pinard in Volume 1 of his book series on Montreal entered the building in the French Renaissance style.