Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Alexander Fraser, 1836; Hall: W J Smith, 1881; Tower, 1891. 2-storey, 3-bay classical church with tower and halls adjoining. Coursed granite ashlar; Aberdeen bond granite rubble to rear. Base course; architraved windows; dividing band course; eaves course.

E (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical; 3-bay pedimented central block, regular fenestration to ground floor, 3 segmental-arched windows to 1st floor in pilastered bays, pediment surmounted with central tablet reading "1836 1903", crucifix to apex. 2-storey 3-bay Italianate church hall adjoining to right, 2-leaf panelled timber door to left of ground floor, tall letterbox fanlight, flanked by 2 windows with projecting cills to right, 3 round-arched windows with panelled aprons and keystone details to 1st floor, eaves blocking course with central tablet stepped-up reading "1881". Square-plan 4-stage tower adjoining to outer left, round-arched pilastered doorway with keystone detail to ground floor, 2-leaf panelled timber door, simple fanlight, bipartite window to left return; pedimented windows to centre of E and S elevations of 2nd stage, deep cornice above; small bipartite windows to centre of E and S elevations of 3rd stage, datestone to E reading "1891", geometric blind balustrade above; octagonal 4th stage set back, round-arched openings to each facet with impost and keystone details, domed lead roof with octagonal lantern and finial to apex.

N ELEVATION: obscured by adjoining building.

W ELEVATION: symmetrical; 3-bay; stained glass windows; regular fenestration to ground floor, segmental-arched windows to 1st floor. Hall adjoining to outer left, circular window to centre of rubble ground floor, harled addition to 1st floor with 7-light window.

S ELEVATION: asymmetrical; 4-bay; 2 bays to left with tower adjoining to right (see above), regular fenestration to ground floor, 2 round-arched windows to 1st floor, flanking bay to left stepped back, doorway and window to ground floor, single round-arched window to 1st floor, outer left angle decoratively chamfered; bay to outer left stepped-back, infilled segmental-arched opening near-centre, March Stone reading CR (City Royalty) to outer quoin.

Predominantly stained glass and leaded windows, some timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roof with lead ridges. Coped stone skews with blocked ashlar skewputts. Cast-iron ridge vent. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: fine stained glass windows throughout, those to E by Douglas Strachan. Principal entrance through tower, panelled below dado, dog-leg stair with decorative newel post and iron balusters, fine reeded handrail on metal brackets; some original panelled timber doors survive. Nave split into 2 levels (later alteration), nave at ground floor with predominantly modern fittings, hall above, with moulded plasterwork ceiling. Iron dog-leg stair with twisted balusters to hall, small chapel with circular stained glass window to rear of hall, boarded timber below dado.

BOUNDARY WALLS: low coped granite walls to S; brick coped rubble walls to SW and W.

Statement of Special Interest

Ecclesiastical building in use as such. Holburn Central Parish Church (originally known as Holburn Chapel of Ease) was built as a simple rectangular-plan church, as part of the Church Extension Movement. It was built to serve the expanding community to the W of Aberdeen, on a site which at the time was known as Bawbie Law's Corner. The architect, Alexander Fraser (c. 1790-1841) was also a landscape painter and drawing master, and associated with James Giles (1801-1870). The six stained glass windows to the E of the church were funded by public subscription. The windows are by Douglas Strachan, and were dedicated in 1903 to the memory of the 242 Gordon Highlanders who fell in the South African War. March stones mark the inner and outer marches (boundaries) of Aberdeen, defined by marked stones possibly dating from 1698. The original stones were replaced circa 1790 by the present stones, numbered 1-48. The next group, were replaced in the early 19th century, which was presumably when this stone was set into the church quoin. This particular stone was part of the inner marches, CR standing for City Royalty, and is thought to be among the older stones (Cruickshank & Dunn).

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.