Browse Items (4104 total)

A rare opportunity to explore part of Scotland's military history at the former RAF Machrihanish in Kintyre. The 1000 acre site boasting a 10,000ft runwayis operated by Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC) it is home to around 50 private and…

Machrimore Oatmeal Mill replaced in 1799 an earlier mill dated to 1634. It continued working until c 1960 when in the process of conversion into a grain-drying operation all internal machinery was lost. Historic Scotland B listed it in 1971.…

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Fifteen months ago we asked the Edinburgh firm of Simpson and Brown to look at the site of the old Community Hall and design a centre fit for the 21st century that the population of Inveraray would be proud to own. We have a design to show the people…

Following the Prisons (Scotland) Act in 1839, the Argyllshire Prison Board was formed to oversee the prisons in Inveraray, Campbeltown and Tobermory. After much deliberation the Board secured a site for a new prison on the Castlehill. Thomas Brown…

New build Police Station on a brownfield site in the centre of Campbeltown, replacing the existing and outdated Victorian police station on Castlehill. Its contemporary appearance over 2 floors will house new administration, operational and custodial…

A lifeboat station was first established at Campbeltown in 1861. The Severn Class lifeboat the Ernest and Mary Shaw came into service in 1999. The D-class lifeboat D-571 Three Brothers came into service in 2001. Three silver medals, 9 bronze medals,…

Originally opened in 1938, but closed nine years later, and reopened again in 1990, Tobermory is a relatively young RNLI station, operating for nearly 25 years. Today's Severn class lifeboat carries out rescues to both leisure and commercial…

Recently named as one of Scotland?s ten favourite buildings of the last century, Rothesay Pavilion has been?the cultural centre of the island community of Bute off the West Coast of Scotland.? Built in 1938 by architect J.A. Carrick, this Grade A…

Commissioned by Rothesay Harbour Trust in 1899 during Rothesay's hey-day, the gents? lavatory was always intended to impress.The magnificent interior has walls entirely clad in decorative ceramic tiles, ornately patterned in rows. The floors are…

From the 13th century or earlier, Tarbert Castle guarded the anchorage in the bay below, and controlled the land link between East and West Lochs. It has been a Royal Castle since at least 1292, when it was granted to John Balliol by Edward I of…

Georgian mansion of 2 storeys and an attic on a sunken basement, in extensive grounds overlooking the sea. Pedimented NW facade, with a late 19C arch. Interior remodelled 1900 after a fire. Acquired in 1975 by the Landmark Trust, restored 2003/04 and…

Wing added 1903. Interior refurbished after 1989 fire. The seat of justice in Campbeltown for over 100 years, it replaced the old Court House in Bolgarn Street. The vaulted mansard ceiling of the court room was restored in 1989 to its original…

Dedicated to St Blaan, a nephew of St Columba, this is the third church on this site. The slated roof is of Norwegian pine, landed at the nearby Port of Dunaverty. The porch, choir stalls and stained glass windows added by Ina, Dowager Duchess of…

Springbank was established in 1828 and is the oldest independently owned distillery in Scotland - currently in the hands of the great, great grandson of the original owner. It is unique among Scotland?s distilleries as it is the only one to undertake…

St Kiaran?s Scottish Episcopal Church was built in 1891 and is a category C listed building. It replaced a previous building of the same name, but which had fallen into disrepair. The original plans for the new church were drawn up by the architect…

Gothic chapel replacing earlier building of 1809. Street gable with 3 plain traceried windows divided by pinnacled buttresses. Ogee-hooded entrance arch. Interior remodelled by James Thomson in 1960. Stations of the Cross sculpted by local artist…

The Cherry Park farm offices at Inveraray Castle were designed by John Adam for the 3rd Duke of Argyll. When the 5th Duke succeeded in 1771, the offices remained incomplete and the Duke invited William Mylne to submit plans for its completion. Mylne…

Built by local builder, Robert Weir and Son, commissioned by 33 founding members in the town and opened on 23rd March 1887 as a businessmen?s social club and reading room.? Built in red sandstone with many subtle architectural details, especially the…

Recently upgraded to an A listing. The Picture House is the oldest, purpose-built, continuously operating cinema in Scotland. Designed by prolific cinema architect A V Gardner in fantasy style with red elliptical roofs and a cheeky red crown…

The Retreat is an early Victorian domestic dwelling built around 1860, located on the Rosneath Peninsula within the Victorian burgh of Cove and Kilcreggan.The garden is designed around a dramatic gully with a serpentine path which follows Aidens…

In 1815 General Keith Macalister began the construction of Torrisdale Castle. He employed the services of James Gillespie Graham, one of Scotland?s most famous architects.In 1872 the castle was rented by local businessman Peter Hall, brother of James…

The factory is holding an open day in association with Doors Open days. It is the only combined Wind Turbine Production and Nacelle Assembly Plant in the UK. The factory has now completed 18 months of production and employs just under 200 personnel,…

St. Michael and All Angels' Church was designed by Sir Rowan Anderson, a pupil of Sir Gilbert Scott, and dedicated in 1868, its dedication recalling the ruined medieval chapel at Faslane also dedicated to St. Michael.??? It replaced an earlier…

Long Croft?is a catagory A, National Monuments house, built in 1901-1902 by a husband and wife couple, Alexander Paterson and Maggie Hamilton.?Husband and wife were part of the Glasgow boys and Glasgow girls group of painters, needle women,…

Visit Wind Towers for a fascinating insight into one of Scotland’s newest industries. This world class manufacturing site at Machrihanish provides “ready to install” tower solutions for the onshore and offshore wind energy market.…

Generally regarded as one of the finest Masonic premises anywhere in Scotland, "292" as it is popularly known opened in late 1909, although the roots of Freemasonry in Rothesay can be dated back to 1792.The major feature of the current building is…

There has been a church on the same site for over 365 years, the parish initially extending from Garelochhead to Cardross. The current building is the third and was completed in 1851. The second was the one in which Rev John McLeod Campbell preached…

?Arguably Scotland's most significant modernist building, St Peter's was designed by Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia and was built in 1966 as a college to train young priests. It went on to win the RIBA Gold Medal for…

The present building was completed in 1796, and extensively altered in 1906. The sanctuary with pitch pine dado, now runs east to west, with painted Corinthian columns supporting a U-plan timber panelled gallery. At the west end there is a stair to a…

The Hill? House on Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh was designed 1902 ? 1904, by Scotland?s world famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh as a family home for Glasgow book publisher, Walter Blackie.??????

Open Doors Day provides a rare opportunity to see the unique medieval chapel in Cardross. In a peaceful rural setting, on a hillside overlooking the Clyde, it is still in regular use at the heart of its parish community.?Parishioners will welcome all…

The ROC underground monitoring post at Stravanan Bay on Bute formed part of a chain of some 865 monitoring posts throughout the United Kingdom from which information on the effects of a nuclear attack on the United Kingdom would have been reported…

Ardenvohr is a large and well-detailed example of a grand mid 19th century baronial villa. It was built by local architect Thomas Gildard for Daniel Walkinshaw in 1857. It later became the estate of the Muir family. It was acquired by the Royal…

Clarendon, or Torwood Villa as it was originally named, was built in the mid 19th century. The two extensions you can see on either side of the original building were designed by William Leiper, the famous Scottish architect, in 1888 and 1891.During…

A medieval church existed in Cardross since 1226 and in 1329 the body of Robert the Bruce was brought there, before its burial in Dunfermline Abbey. A new church was built in 1644 and replaced in 1827 by the church which destroyed by a bomb in May…

Helensburgh Parish Church is located in Colquhoun Square in the centre of Helensburgh.The present building was erected in 1853 at a cost of 4,500 to serve an increasing population. The architect was James Hay, Liverpool, to a design which won prizes…

Brantwoode is a Category A listed building, which was built in 1895 by the architect William Leiper. It follows the Old English style popularised by the Arts & Crafts Movement and retains many of its original features, including Kauri pine…

Strathleven House is a category A-listed Palladian mansion located on the outskirts of Dumbarton. Surrounded by scenic woodland, it is part of the Vale of Leven Industrial Estate. The building dates from 1700 and it is considered to be the first…

The Mackintosh Club, in Helensburgh is the newly discovered Charles Rennie Mackintosh hidden gem. The Gallery is open 11-3 and features a permanent exhibition on its history and the Glasgow Four. It is available for private hire and recently has…

The partially-renovated B-listed Dunans Castle, and Thomas Telford's A-listed Dunans Bridge, are the centre-pieces in a uniquely designed landscape which includes the UK's tallest tree and an extended Victorian path network. Dunans House has been…

Helensburgh?s former Clyde Street School was transformed into a stateof-the-art facility on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council. The Clyde Street School building was designed in 1903 by Helensburgh architect and artist Alexander Nisbet Paterson, and…

Dunoon Burgh Hall is grade B listed and dates from 1874. Following a ?1.9million refurbishment, the Burgh Hall re-opened in June 2017 as a community arts hub with museum standard gallery spaces, a new cafe extension, disabled access, workshop spaces,…

The Argyll Papers are the family and estate archive of the Campbell family, dukes of Argyll. One of the most important private archives in Britain, it is a rich resource for Scottish and British history from the 13th to the 21st centuries, and…

THE roots of Helensburgh's now closed St Columba Church sprang from a group of Dissenters who met fortnightly in the Baths Hotel for Sunday worship, often with a visiting minister. The hotel was owned by a prominent member of the group, Mrs Margaret…

Completed in 1802, the building housed two churches under the one roof, the south end for Gaelic speakers and the north end for those who only spoke English. The Gaelic church closed in 1957 and is now the church hall. The elegant spire was removed…

The building was the final one to be built in the new town in Inveraray and is an 'A' Listed Building. It is a beautiful church building inside. Completed in 1802 the building housed two churches under one roof, the south end for Gaelic speakers and…

As part of Doors Open Day Cowal Open Studios offers? 43 venues which? will be open to the public featuring the work of eminent local artists and makers.? Many situated in beautiful and more remote parts of Cowal and others based in the town of Dunoon…

The Scottish Ecological Design (sponsored by the Glasgow Institute of Architects) held their annual Ecological Cycling and Walking tour this year which was set around Dunoon and the Cowal Peninsula.Peninsula Expedition builds on last year?s very…

This small stone fronted church building was designed in 1956 by Margaret Brodie who worked on the Glasgow Empire Exhibition. The building is a smaller version of the original design by renowned architect Leslie Graham Thomson MacDougall which was to…

Historic Kilmun describes the visitor centre within St Munns church, the Argyll Mausoleum, the collegiate tower and surrounding ancient graveyard. From our earliest gravestone, dated at about 700 AD to the beautiful stained glass and water organ of…

The Castle House Museum is set in stunning and well maintained gardens atop a hillside opposite the Gourock-Dunoon ferry terminal.? The Museum tells the story of Dunoon through the ages from the Stone Age all the way through to the American Naval…

The first Dunoon Pier appeared in 1835. The pier was enlarged and a new waiting room constructed in 1867 to cater for the growth of paddle-steamer traffic and this was further improved with a larger 400 foot jetty in 1881. The pier was again rebuilt…

The original Queen's Hall Pavilion was constructed around 1905 by William Fraser Architect, who lived in Dunoon from 1898 to 1907.? The existing Queen's Hall was built in 1959, and although not as grand as its predecessor, the building's architecture…

This is a sandstone built Church with square tower. The interior is finished sandstone with quotations etched into the sandstone.The Architect is Me MacGrego Chambers

The present church is located in very beautiful surroundings between Dunoon and Kirn, near the seafront, with accommodation for 700 people. It is early Gothic in style and is appropiately built in local whinstone, which gives the building and the…

The present building probably stands on the site of a much earlier church which until 1688 was the Cathedral Church of both the Roman Catholic and Episcopalian Bishops of Argyll. Towards the end of the 18th century the building became dilapidated and…

A church graveyard, ruined tower and mausoleum. The history of Scotland in a small country village. From royalty to traitors, from the first woman doctor to body snatchers and some of the best stained glass in Scotland. One of onluy two remaining…

Formerly Macphersons Impreial Tea Room and Restaurant. The business closed a number of years ago and has remained vacant ever since. The interior is stunning with huge windows giving great views out to the Clyde.

Meet Robert Bryden, architect of Dunoon Burgh Hall, St John's Church and other local buildings. The People of Place is a new archive and marketing concept being developed by the research and design agency Tacit-Tacit. Local illustrator Walter Newton…

Artist and steel furniture maker David Roman invites you into his wonderfully recreated new home. This is a great opportunity to see how his creative use of colour and design, combined with previous owner's home improvements, have turned this…

New building by Taylor Associates, 2011, on Ayrshire College Ayr Campus offering state of the art facilities for the tranining of students in aeronautical/ aircraft engineering. Highly-rated green credentials.

Campbell Douglas, 1857-58, additions 1877, 1890. Gothic-style.?Twenty stained glass windows give a mini history of the art from 1858 to the present including works by Clayton and Bell, McLundie, Mayer & Co, Webb, Whall, Hamilton, Crombie,…

David Thomson, 1875, in Early English style, recently restored. Notable stained glass by Clayton & Bell, L C Evetts, Crucifixion by J E W Guthrie, and Angel Gathering Tulips by Harrington Man; reredos paintings by William Hole. Saturday car boot…

Category A church designed by Jack Coia and T Wharnett Kennedy, 1938, in red and yellow brick with red tiled roof and a simple, impressive interior.??New stained glass by Lighthouse Glass of Irvine.? Parish Centre added 1997; the?Presbytery rebuilt…

Built 1858, eleven years after Ardrossan became a burgh, and used as town hall until 1946 when the Council and local Masonic Lodge St John RA No. 320 agreed that the Lodge take over the building.?Exterior stonework restored 1997/8 with assistance…

A wonderful opportunity to visit a home where energy saving measures have been retro fitted, and discuss the pros and cons with the occupiers.?

Built c.1760 by Lord Auchinleck, and inherited by his son James Boswell, biographer of Dr Johnson. Johnson visited the house in 1773. It is a fine example of an 18th century country villa. Classical design strongly influenced by Adam. Fine pediment…

Established 75 years ago when local authority secured land from Miss Campbell of Craigie House. ?The allotments have proved to be a popular local resource. ?

One of Ayr's most beautiful rooms, the Art Department of Ayr Academy. The stunning Art Department was designed by a local architect in the style of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. ?

Built in 1817 as the Theatre Royal, later Queens Rooms Theatre. Used as Baptist Church since 1880. Now a modern multi-purpose centre and Church with Baptistry and unique stained glass windows from Glennapp Castle. Refurbished 2004.Exhibition: The…

Built on the site of Content House, to replace station in Sandgate. One of the biggest fire stations in Scotland with the longest pole-drop. Recent major refurbishment to provide facilities for 100 professional fire-fighters serving South Ayrshire…

Built in 1832 as a Reformed Presbyterian (Cameronian) Church, it is the second oldest church in use in Ayr. The sword on the main gate recalls the Cameronians' origins in the militant covenanting tradition. Free Church of Scotland since 1876, halls…

The Gaiety Theatre, designed by local architect J McHardy Young, was built in 1902. This category B listed building closed in 2009, and after a huge campaign by the local community, reopened in December 2012 with Cinderella. The theatre is now run as…

Robert Wallace, 1818-22. Purpose built classical courthouse with majestic four-columned ionic portico. Refurbished to provide two large jury courts, two small non-jury courts and one civil court, witness and jury rooms and custody area. Interesting…

Neo-classical landmark. High five-staged steeple with channelled columns and pedimented doorway, ornamented with Doric columns, urns and gryphons holding torches.Designed in Classical style by Thomas Hamilton of Edinburgh in 1827, at a cost of…

Opened in 1888 with a challenge match between Ayr FC and Aston Villa, FA cup winners 1887.? Ayr won 3-0.? Ayr FC and Ayr Parkhouse amalgamated in 1910, the only occasion in Scottish football for two league clubs to combine.??

On seafront, but access from Craigweil Road off Blackburn Road. One of a group of Scottish Baronial villas which adorn the southern edge of the Low Green. Built to the designs of John Murdoch, 1879, it was formerly Craigweil, home of the late John…

Theophilus Rankine 1654. Successor church to mediaeval St John's (at Bruce Crescent). Cromwellian Government contributed 1,000 merks towards the cost of building the new church. Family church of Robert Burns, whose father was an elder. Fine interior…

Original constructed 1879 for foundry owner William Smith Dixon, rebuilt by Mackenzie & Moncur, now vandalised. The charity Belleisle Conservatory Ltd was formed 2010 to raise funds to rebuild this much-loved building.

Funded with £10,000 from Andrew Carnegie. Impressive Renaissance-style red sandstone front with decorative wall tiling in entrance. Splendid full-height stained glass staircase window by Stephen Adam & Co. Bust of Burns by Amelia R. Hill…

Built on the site of Ayr Prison, County Buildings is now the headquarters of South Ayrshire Council. See the attractive woodwork and impressive collections of paintings and stained glass. Guided tour on the hour to view committee rooms and art works.

The building designed by WIlliam Cowie and Torry as a parish church and completed in 1957, was elevated to Cathedral status in 1961. Following its closure, redeveloped by Ayrshire Housing in 2012 to a deisgn by Gordon Fleming of Ayr-based ARPL…

John Loughborough Pearson, 1898. Category A listed, 13th century Gothic in style. His designs for tower and steeple were abandoned and a truncated tower by Roger Pinkney completed the building in 1964. Outstanding stained glass by Clayton & Bell…

Comfortable dwelling of James Tait, merchant who traded with Europe, first recorded in late 15th century. Purchased in 16th century as the town house of the Campbells of Loudoun, hereditary sheriffs of Ayr. Rescued from demolition by 4th Marquess of…

Lodge St James Newton on Ayr consecrated 1771 and moved here to former Newnham School for Girls in 1931.See Souter Johnnie?s Masonic Apron and other artefacts including fine stained glass windows.

Original 1760s classical mansion, home to generations of the Hamilton family, extended in 1830s by David Bryce in the Italianite style, converted to museum and art gallery operated by South Ayrshire Council in association with the Maclaurin Trust.…

Perpendicular Gothic by John B Wilson in red sandstone, 1893 withlandmark 146 ft spire. Hall built in 1897 by William McClelland, extended in 1963 and 1983.

Opened 1827, the first Catholic Church in Ayrshire since the Reformation. Refurbished 1999-2000. Became the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Galloway and dedicated in 2007. Fine stained glass, including Pan Am 103 memorial by Susan Bradbury who…

Remaining part of the original parish church of Ayr. The church, in its time the largest in Ayrshire, was cruciform in shape and the tower was perhaps added in the 14th century. In 1315 Robert the Bruce convened the Scottish Parliament in the church.…

New Ayr Campus opened 2011 providing state-of-the-art facilities for the teaching of Education, Health, Creative Industries and Land-based Studies. Building shared by UWS and SRUC with shared library and IT facilities in Riverside location. Highly…

One of the few privately owned Bridge venues in Scotland. Seven clubs use the venue during the week.?

The Ayrshire Hospice has been providing specialist palliative and end of life care across the Ayrshire community for 30 years. Come and hear about the history of the hospice, learn about the services and care we currently provide free of charge to…

The 17th centurythatched cottage where Robert Burns and his friends formed a literary and debating society in 1780. Restored for the Burns Bicentennial, the house contains fascinating Burns memorabilia. Owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

The Barony Colliery in Auchinleck was the last deep mine in Ayrshire. After closure, all that remained was the 'A' Frame, a unique and imposing 180 ft structure which has now been restored as a permanent reminder of the area's mining…

First mentioned in 1127, with an almost unbroken list of incumbents since 1361. Tower built 1490; Aisle built 1597 and Crawford Gallery 1642 with its unique woodwork and Armorials. C S S Johnston added northern extension 1903-05. Superb windows by…

Architects Black & Salmon of Glasgow, 1844. Organ installed 1889. Fine stained glass. Now church for congregation of Barony St John's formed following union in 1987.

Vale Grove and Vale View (Beechgrove) Gardens created by the Barrmill Conservation Group, the Barrmill & District Community Association and other volunteers, assisted by NAC Ranger Service.