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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Site Details
Name
Blairs College
Town, District or Village
Parish
City or County
Aberdeenshire
Status
B listed
Country
Scotland
Grid Ref
Grid Ref N
Grid Ref E
Notes
St Maryâs 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.
Alternative Names
The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
Alt classic
Name
Current Name
Notes
Blairs Catholic College
No
St Mary's College, New College
Yes
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Building Type Classification
The building is classified under the following categories:
Class classic
Classification
Original Classification
Notes
College
Not Known
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Street Addresses
The following street addresses are associated with this building:
Str Add classic
Address
Current Address
Notes
South Deeside Road
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Events
The following date-based events are associated with this building:
event classic
Event Type
From
To
Notes
Build/construction
1898
1902
New buildings
Opened
1903
Formal opening 23 September 1903
Build/construction
1919c
War memorial
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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.
design classic
Person
Partnership Group
Role
From
To
Notes
Ellis & Wilson
A
1897
1902
New buildings excluding chapel
Robert Gordon Wilson (senior)
A
1897
1902
New buildings excluding chapel
John Wilson Walker
B
1906a
1921b
Additions/alterations?
Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)
B
1906a
1921b
Additions/alterations?
Robert Gordon Wilson (senior)
B?
1906a
1915b
Additions/alterations? - possibly done by Wilsons & Walker after R G Wilson Senior's retirement
Wilsons & Walker
B
1906a
1921b
Additions/alterations?
William John Devlin
Architect
1919C
War memorial
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Related Buildings, Structures and Designs
Child Structures
This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):
Child classic
Notes
Name
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]
Blairs College, New Chapel
Blairs College, St Mary's Old Chapel and Menzies Apartments
St Maryâs 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 (Menzies House) became a seminary for Catholic boys who wished to become priests. Partially demolished it is the oldest building on the site and the core of the later college buildings.
Blairs College, Menzies House
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References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this building:
bio ref classic
Author
Year
Title
Part
Publisher
Notes
Anson, Peter
1963
Catholic Church Building in Scotland
Sharples, J, Walker, D W and Woodworth, M
2015
The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire South and Aberdeen
London and New Haven: Yale University Press
pp85, 385
Who's Who in Architecture
1923
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Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this building:
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Periodical Name
Date
Edition
Publisher
Notes
Aberdeen Observer
1917/05/04
*
Obituary of Alexander Ellis
Builder
1897/10/23
p331 - Extension, Catholic College, Blairs near Aberdeen
British Architect
1903/10/02
p253 - formal opening
Builder
1901/08/10
p147
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Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this building:
arc ref classic
Source
Name
Cat Number
Item Name
Notes
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum
RIBA Nomination Papers
John Wilson Walker: F v25 no1871 (microfilm reel 15); Robert Gordon Wilson Junior: F v25 no1872 (microfilm reel 15)
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
19228
Gate piers and lodge
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
19225
College
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