Thomas Telford's former parish manse adds a restrained domestic companion to his parliamentary church nearby.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1829; later nineteenth-century alterations
- Architect / designer
- Thomas Telford
- Type
- Two-storey former parish manse
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB7787)
- OS grid reference
- NH 12735 93911
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The harled, two-storey, three-bay house has painted margins and long-and-short detailing, with a two-storey rear wing. A later central doorway and simplified modern glazing sit beneath coped end stacks and a slate roof.
Its story
Built in 1829 as the parish manse, the house formed part of the state-supported church provision associated with Telford's new Ullapool church. By the first Ordnance Survey in 1873, alterations had reshaped its entrance and plan.
Why it is included
Category C listing protects a recognisable Telford-era manse and the domestic half of an important church-and-residence pairing within the planned village.
What to notice
- Painted margins framing the regular three-bay front.
- Long-and-short detailing at the building's corners.
- The rear wing showing the house's extended plan.
Reading the surroundings
The building is a private home. Observe from public streets only and do not enter the property, photograph through windows or disturb residents.
Timeline
- 1829 Telford's design provided a residence for the parish minister.
- 1873 Mapping already showed the effects of substantial alterations.
- Later period Private domestic use succeeded the original manse function.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The official record does not date each alteration or identify when the house ceased to serve as a manse.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Ornsay House, LB7787 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Canmore: Ullapool — National-record identification of Ornsay House as a private former parish manse within Ullapool.
Location
OS grid reference NH 12735 93911 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · 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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