Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

1898, on site of previous church; converted for use as community centre, later 20th century. Near rectangular-plan, plain gothic former Free Church set on prominent corner site with near-symmetrical, gabled elevation to front; single storey ancillary block recessed to side. Squared and snecked tooled cream sandstone (tooled rubble at rear); sandstone ashlar dressings. Projecting string courses to front at ground and upper floors; moulded eaves courses throughout. Droved quoins; droved long and short surrounds to pointed-arched openings; chamfered cills.

W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: slightly advanced, 3-bay gabled projection breaking eaves at centre with small windows in all bays at ground; buttresses to outer left and right; 3 large windows above with linked hoodmoulds and carved foliate stops; polygonal sandstone belfry surmounting gablehead with small openings in alternate facets, tapering sandstone spire. 2-storey bay recessed to right with 2-leaf timber panelled door centred at ground; decorative iron hinges; 3 small windows in blocked, pointed-arched fanlight; hoodmould with carved foliate stops; small window aligned above; chamfered corner to outer right with small single window at upper floor. 2-storey bay recessed to left of centre with small single windows centred at both floors; chamfered corner to outer left with small single window at upper floor.

N (SIDE) ELEVATION: 6-bay. Projecting 3-sided tower breaking eaves to outer right with small single window centred at ground; single windows in all bays above. Former nave to left with pointed-arched windows in all 4 bays; buttresses off-set to left and right. Gabled bay breaking eaves to outer left with large window at ground (blocked trefoil head); circular opening with blocked quatrefoil centred in gablehead.

E (REAR) ELEVATION: 2-bay. Large, pointed-arched windows in both bays. Single storey ancillary block to outer left.

S (SIDE) ELEVATION: 6-bay. Projecting 3-sided tower breaking eaves to outer left with small single window centred at ground; single windows in all bays above. Former nave to right with pointed-arched windows in all bays; buttress off-set to left of centre; single storey porch linking ancillary block off-set to right. Gabled bay breaking eaves to outer right with large trefoil-headed window at ground; circular opening centred in gablehead.

Predominantly opaque glazing; some stained and leaded windows. Steeply-pitched grey slate roof; red tile ridging. Stone-coped skews; double-bracketed skewputts. Corniced apex stack to rear.

INTERIOR: converted for use as community centre but keeping essential ecclesiastical character. Vestibule with Tudor-arched timber panelled doors; stair set in tower to N comprising timber treads, balustered uprights, timber handrail. Former nave with boarded timber floor; boarded timber dado panelling; painted walls. Galleried W end with bracketed columns beneath full-width timber panelled balcony (part infilled at ground; enclosed above); clock at centre. Open timber ceiling with scrolled sandstone corbels.

ANCILLARY BLOCK: single storey, 4-bay with porch recessed to outer left. Squared and snecked tooled cream sandstone; projecting cills. W (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: regularly spaced single windows in all 4 bays. Timber door recessed to outer left; fanlight. 4-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. Grey slate piended roof. INTERIOR: timber dado; timber panelled doors.

BOUNDARY WALL: low coped rubble wall enclosing site to front; squat piers flanking entrance.

Statement of Special Interest

No longer in ecclesiastical use. Last used as a place of worship in 1973. Replaced an older Reformed Presbyterian Church which, with its thatched roof and low ceilings, was described as one of the ugliest churches in Scotland. In 1896, Robson noted that "...the present building is found to be inadequate, and a new church is in contemplation." The following year, the old building was demolished and in 1898, this new church, erected on the same site, was opened.

Despite the wider union of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church in 1929, North Church kept its separate status until 1952. Now used as a community centre (1998).

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.