Pilkington’s rugged and inventive former church combines a truncated tower, canted apses and exuberant carved detail.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1862–63; restored 1990–91
- Architect / designer
- Frederick Thomas Pilkington
- Type
- Rogue Gothic former church
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB39295)
- OS grid reference
- NT 23579 59504
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
Bull-faced and stugged sandstone forms a compact church with steep roofs, pointed openings and a square tower changing to an octagonal belfry. Leafy capitals, cusped tracery, finials and a dramatic open timber roof express Pilkington’s personal Gothic vocabulary.
Its story
The Free Church congregation moved here from West Street after Sir George Clerk offered a larger site. Dry rot prompted a substantial repair campaign late in the twentieth century; the congregation later sold the building for non-religious reuse.
Why it is included
The Category A church is one of Penicuik’s two outstanding works by F T Pilkington and demonstrates how a highly individual Victorian building can acquire a specialist new use.
What to notice
- The tower changing from a square base to an octagonal belfry.
- Large foliage capitals and deeply worked sandstone details.
- The compact canted projections and steep roof line.
Reading the surroundings
The building is not routinely open to the public. Appreciate it from public routes and contact the occupier directly if access is essential.
Timeline
- 20 May 1862 Duncan Cowan laid the foundation stone for the new Free Church.
- 4 September 1863 The congregation opened its completed church for worship.
- 1990–91 Repairs addressed dry rot, roof timbers, glazing and interior finishes.
- 2022 The Church of Scotland sold the property for a new private use.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The present specialist use is documented by Scotland’s Churches Trust; public access and business arrangements may change.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Penicuik South Church, LB39295 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Scotland’s Churches Trust: Penicuik South Church — Independent account of the architecture, 2022 sale, present use and access position.
Location
OS grid reference NT 23579 59504 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent 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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