A doctor’s memorial to his minister brother-in-law created a church hall and gifted library distinguished by a rose window and shouldered arches.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1900, with later additions
- Architect / designer
- Built for Dr James N. McDougall; designer not recorded
- Type
- Gabled church hall and commemorative library
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB46614)
- OS grid reference
- NT 90215 65928
Architecture and continuing use
The single-storey T-plan hall is built in stugged cream sandstone and presents a strongly gabled entrance with inscribed plaque, stylised rose window and louvred opening. A piended porch and shoulder-arched side windows accompany a traceried window in the south gable. Later work occupies the rear angle.
Its story
Dr James N. McDougall erected the hall in 1900 for Reverend Andrew Brodie Robertson, minister of adjoining St Andrew’s for forty-three years from 1856. Built at a reported cost of £1,000, it included a gifted library. By 1999 it was in separate ownership from the former church.
Why it is included
It combines personal commemoration, religious community provision and access to books within a carefully detailed small hall.
What to notice
- The memorial plaque in its pointed surround.
- Stylised tracery within the entrance rose window.
- Shouldered arches, gabletted skewputts and the lost-finial position.
Reading the surroundings
Do not assume the hall is open or part of the separately managed public hall. View from public space unless the current owner expressly permits entry.
Timeline
- 1856–1899 Andrew Brodie Robertson served the adjoining congregation as minister.
- 1900 James McDougall erected the memorial hall and provided its library.
- By 1999 The hall had entered ownership separate from the former church.
- 2000 Its commemorative and architectural details received Category C listing.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The current use and condition of the former library are not established, and an early south-gable finial was already missing by 1999.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Robertson Memorial Hall, LB46614 — Current designation status, statutory identity, official mapped point, date, fabric and significance.
- Coldingham community website — Locally maintained context for the village, its facilities and heritage setting; used alongside official designation evidence.
- Trove: Robertson Memorial Hall — National collection entry corroborating the designation identity, mapped location and related archive material.
- National Library of Scotland: georeferenced historic maps — Historic-map comparison for the building, street pattern and surrounding settlement; map dates and layers should be checked individually.
Location
OS grid reference NT 90215 65928 · Location confidence: High for the current HES designation point; public text separately qualifies component extent, terrain and access. · 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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