James Henderson gave this compact Free Church manse a strongly marked centre, canted dormers and distinctive sash windows after the Disruption era.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1848–49
- Architect / designer
- James Henderson
- Type
- Single-storey and attic former Free Church manse
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB16535)
- OS grid reference
- NK 07881 52508
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The harled two-window house has granite margins and a central door beneath a block pediment carried on consoles. Two canted dormers rise from the roof, and Henderson’s sash pattern uses narrow side panes around a broader centre light.
Its story
Built in 1848–49 as the Free Manse of St Fergus, the house belonged to the new congregational landscape created after the Disruption of 1843. Its associated church later became ruinous, while the manse survived in altered use.
Why it is included
Category C listing recognises a characteristic small Free Church manse by James Henderson and a legible part of nineteenth-century religious change.
What to notice
- Consoles supporting the central entrance pediment.
- Two canted attic dormers.
- Sash windows divided by narrow side panes.
Reading the surroundings
Treat the house and its ground as private. Observe only from public roads or paths and do not approach doors, windows or garden areas.
Timeline
- 1843 The Disruption created demand for separate Free Church buildings and manses.
- 1848–1849 James Henderson completed a compact new residence for the minister.
- Later period The manse survived after its associated church fell out of use.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The date of conversion from manse use, present occupancy and interior survival were not established.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: The Gables, LB16535 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB16535 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
Location
OS grid reference NK 07881 52508 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms record identity and archival context. · 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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