Basic Site Details

Name: Blairs College, New Chapel
City or county: Aberdeenshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: A chapel is being added to the Roman Catholic College at Blairs, N.B., at a cost of £12,000, borne by Monsigneur Teunon, of Liverpool. It will consist of nave and aisles, transepts, and apsidal chancel, and tower and pinnacled spire rising to a height of 150ft. The style is Perpendicular, and the facing material Aberdeen grey granite. Mr. A Curran, of Warrington, is the architect. Other buildings are being added to the college at a further cost of £28,000. The architect for these was Mr. R. G. Wilson. [Building News 31 March 1899 p441]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1St Mary's Chapel  

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Chapel  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 21899  Chapel built
Item 2 of 219101911 Interior remodelling of chapel

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 2Robert Curran  1899 Original chapel
Item 2 of 2Charles Jean Menart (or Ménart)  19101911Interior remodelling and decoration

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Mgr Lennon of Liverpool 

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

Parent Structure and Site

This structure is related to the following parent structure or site (click the item to view details):
 Building nameNotes
Item 1 of 1Blairs CollegeSt Mary’s College, Blairs, was founded in 1829 when a local landowner, John Menzies of Pitfodels (1756-1843), donated his mansion and estate of 1000 acres to the Catholic Church. The house became a seminary for Catholic boys who wished to become priests. Due to growing numbers a new three-storey college was begun in 1897, and was quickly followed by a new chapel. The College, which had been built at a cost of £33,000 , was formally opened on the 23rd September 1903 by Bishop Chisholm

The college closed in 1986 due to falling numbers and has remained mosty empty since. Blairs Museum, the Museum of Scotland's Catholic Heritage occupies part of the complex and plans have been announced for a £115m hotel

Check if some other part of this is A Listed. Lodge etc is C Listed. New wing to complete extension to cost £12,000 [Builder 1901]

'Buildings of Scotland' states that John Henderson was responsible for a doorway in the hall of the 1892 College and the dado and angle pilasters. This cannot be John Henderson
(1802-1862) but it is not clear which other John Henderson might have been responsible.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Geddes, Jane2001Deeside and the Mearns: An Illustrated Architectural Guide Edinburgh: RIAS/Rutland Pressp80
Item 2 of 2Sharples, J, Walker, D W and Woodworth, M2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire South and Aberdeen London and New Haven: Yale University Presspp36, 40, 385

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Builder9 November 1901  p419
Item 2 of 3Building News31 March 1899  p441
Item 3 of 3Building News1 November 1901  p587

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 1Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register19227