Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

James Maclaren, 1865; renovated and extended 1951, 1967 and 2008. Well-detailed 2-storey, 5-bay Classical public hall and theatre in prominent High Street position, with modern extensions to rear. Ground floor with channelled detail and vermiculated quoins, polished ashlar Doric columns and pilasters, carved head keystone over centre door; 1st floor with vermiculated pilasters with later high relief carved thistle capitals supporting entablature with triglyphed frieze and cavetto cornice; centre pediment with blind oculus in tympanum is flanked by further set-back entablature with plain (altered?) frieze and carved detail at dies. Ashlar with dry dash to sides and rear. Roundheaded openings to centre door at ground and 1st floor. Keystoned hoodmoulds and voussoirs.

FURTHER DETAIL: principal E elevation with modern semicircular canopy fronting 3 centre bays which comprise 2-leaf door and decoratively-astragalled semicircular fanlight to blind portico at centre flanked by deep-set 2-leaf doors with multi-pane fanlights; windows to outer bays. 1st floor with regular full-height fenestration. All bays with dividing pilasters.

8- and 12-pane glazing patterns in timber sash and case windows at principal elevation. Grey slates.

INTERIOR: largely reworked during 2008 modernisation, including foyer, staircase and theatre. 1st floor hall retains fine decorative plasterwork to cornices and ceiling.

Statement of Special Interest

The principal elevation of the Webster Memorial Theatre, by local architect James Maclaren, has retained much of its original character and it makes a significant contribution to Arbroath's largely 19th century High Street. Formerly known as The Public Hall, the building was renovated in 1951, the stage and auditorium were enlarged in 1970 and further work was carried out in 2007 after which the building was re-opened by Provost Ruth Leslie Melville MBE on 19th January 2008. The success of this work was recognised when Angus Council Property Division received the 2008 RIAS DIA award for Best Example of Environmental Improvement / Conservation.

When opened in 1865, the building contained 'a museum and a large hall for concerts and public meetings' (Groome). It hosted touring plays and vaudeville, but was not successful until local flax manufacturers, the Webster family, gave their support and eventually gifted it to the town in memory of their son who was killed in the First World War. During the 1930s the Arbroath Follies became popular summer spectacles.

The 1st floor hall retains portraits of Janet Webster (1819-1908) and Sir Francis Webster (her son). The latter, by Robert Gibb RSA, was presented by 'Arbroath Liberals and Other Friends, In Recognition of His Eminent Public Services, Arbroath 20 April 1912'.

Architect James Maclaren was born in Dundee in 1829, he worked at David Bryce's Edinburgh office and won the Soane medallion in 1848. He returned to Dundee in 1850 and set up practice with his brother. Maclaren worked extensively in the Angus, Dundee and Perth area and during the 1860s his commissions included industrial work at Cox's Stack, Dundee, churches at Forfar and Hawkhill, tenements at Broughty Ferry and Blackness, hotels, private house and public buildings.

Listed as part of the Theatres Thematic Study 2008-09.

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.