Blair's College

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Blair's College with the New Chapel on the left

The Blairs College is a former secondary school for the training of priests offspring of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland . It is located near the Scottish village of Milltimber in the Aberdeenshire Council Area . In 1992 the main building was included in the Scottish Monument Lists in Category B. The grounds of the complex, the pigeon tower , the Menzies House and the old chapel are also classified as separate Category B monuments. The north gate with the lodge, however, is a Category C monument. Only the New Chapel is classified as a monument of the highest monument category A.

history

Historically, the lands belonged to the Order of Malta . In 1542 they passed to the Catholic family Menzies , which provided the local landlords. In 1827 the last Menzies of his line bequeathed the land to the Catholic Church in Scotland. This began with the establishment of a seminary . Two years later the facility opened to train 25 priests. In the period that followed, the facility was expanded several times and at peak times accommodated around 250 students between the ages of 12 and 17 who wanted to pursue a career in the church after finishing school. 15 priests were available for care.

For economic reasons and as a result of the declining number of students, Blairs College closed in 1986. It was bought by a company and since then the site has been used for other purposes. Among other things, the Blairs Museum was opened in a part of the building , which shows exhibits from the church, including a posthumously created painting of the Scottish Queen Maria Stuart , which escaped destruction during the revolution, hidden in a fireplace.

description

The facility is located around eight kilometers southwest of downtown Aberdeen near the right bank of the Dee . The U-shaped main building today was built between 1898 and 1902 and expanded in 1906. A striking tower emerges from the asymmetrically constructed, north-facing main facade of the three-story granite building . It concludes with four corner tournaments that wear a crown.

Originally, the school was housed in the former Menzies mansion , which is directly east of the current main building. The three-story building, which dates from the 18th century, was expanded to include a chapel in 1827 and has since been partially demolished. The masonry consists of quarry stone roughly cut into blocks . A rounded tower emerges from the north facade.

Directly to the south is the classicist chapel built in 1827 . The building also houses an apartment that Menzies used himself. Menzies contributed £ 500 to her equipment. The almost symmetrical building closes with a slate-covered hip roof . It overlooks the gardens that adjoin directly to the west. They are surrounded by a wall of granite rubble. They were laid out in 1827 and relocated with the construction of the new main building. On the west side, a filigree wrought iron gate leads into the gardens.

The pigeon tower is located on the southeast corner of the property. The square building with a pyramid roof dates from the 18th century.

New Chapel

The foundation stone for the construction of the neo-Gothic New Chapel was laid in 1899. It is located east of the new main building. Along the facades are pointed arch tracery admitted. The bell tower is striking. Buttresses run along its edges, ending in pinnacles . Lukarnen are embedded in the pointed helmet .

The gate on the north side of the property was built around 1900. It consists of two tall, banded granite pillars with cornices and top caps. The adjoining one-story lodge has an L-shaped floor plan. It ends with a slate-covered hip roof.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  3. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  4. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  5. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  6. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  7. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  8. ↑ a b Information from the Muir Group

Web links

Commons : Blair's College  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 57 ° 5 ′ 55.2 "  N , 2 ° 11 ′ 41.7"  W.