A standard Thomas Telford parliamentary church now houses a community museum devoted to Ullapool and Loch Broom.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1829
- Architect / designer
- Thomas Telford; plans and specifications by James Smith
- Type
- T-plan parliamentary church adapted as a museum
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB7764)
- OS grid reference
- NH 12685 93998
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The T-plan church combines squared rubble, harled side and rear walls, tooled ashlar dressings and characteristic cast-iron lattice windows. Depressed-arched doors organise the main front, a simple bellcote crowns the gable, and galleries survive inside. Coped walls and gate piers enclose the burial ground.
Its story
Built in 1829, the church became the centre of a separate quoad sacra parish in 1833 and remained in worship until 1935. The Ullapool Museum Trust formed in 1991, bought the building for a nominal sum and opened the museum in 1995.
Why it is included
Category A listing recognises a notably complete parliamentary church associated with Telford and Smith, while its museum reuse makes the building part of the community's continuing interpretation of place.
What to notice
- The paired cast-iron lattice windows in the principal front.
- The compact gable bellcote above the slate roof.
- Gallery structure retained inside the former worship space.
Reading the surroundings
Enter only during the museum's advertised opening season and follow staff guidance. Respect the surrounding burial ground, keep gates clear and avoid leaning on memorials or boundary walls.
Timeline
- 1829 The parliamentary-church programme delivered the new T-plan building.
- 1833 Ullapool became a separate quoad sacra parish.
- 1935 Regular parish use of the building ended.
- 1995 The community museum opened inside the restored church.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The designation still describes the church as disused; the museum's own current account establishes its later adaptation and should govern visitor planning.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Ullapool Museum and Burial Ground, LB7764 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Ullapool Museum: the museum — Institutional history, acquisition, museum opening and current identity.
Location
OS grid reference NH 12685 93998 · 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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