This pair of early village houses preserves the modest scale and semi-classical detail of Port Ellen’s founding decades.
Quick facts
- Date
- Earlier nineteenth century
- Architect / designer
- Builders unknown
- Type
- Pair of traditional planned-village houses
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB12002)
- OS grid reference
- NR 36515 44901
Architecture and continuing use
Both houses are gabled with slate roofs and stone skews. One is rendered and the other harled, while a pilastered doorway gives the eastern house a small but deliberate classical emphasis.
Its story
Port Ellen was laid out for Walter Frederick Campbell in the early 1820s and named for his wife, Ellinor. These two houses belong to that initial planned-settlement character, although the council and HES sources differ between 1821 and 1824 for the foundation date.
Why it is included
The pair shows how the planned town was built through restrained domestic architecture rather than landmarks alone.
What to notice
- The semi-classical pilastered doorway.
- Different rendered and harled finishes across the pair.
- Gabled profiles and skewed slate roofs.
Reading the surroundings
View only from public space, respect residents and avoid photographing through windows. Gardens and interiors are private.
Timeline
- 1821–1824 Port Ellen was founded and laid out as a planned settlement.
- Earlier nineteenth century The two Frederick Crescent houses were built.
- 28 August 1980 The pair entered the statutory list at Category C.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The council topic paper dates the foundation to 1821, while HES states 1824. The record preserves the range instead of selecting one unsupported exact year.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: 144–145 Frederick Crescent, LB12002 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and significance.
- Argyll and Bute Council: Historic Assets Topic Paper — Official account of Port Ellen’s 1821 foundation and conservation character.
- Argyll and Bute Council: conservation areas — Current conservation-management context for the village.
- Trove search: 144 145 Frederick Crescent Port Ellen — National collection search for site records, surveys and archive material.
Location
OS grid reference NR 36515 44901 · Location confidence: High for the current national designation point; public text separately states access, component-identity and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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