A remarkably broad seventeenth-century warehouse now forms the historic core of Stromness’s multi-service community hub.
Quick facts
- Date
- Circa 1675; converted and extended for public services
- Architect / designer
- Original designer unrecorded; built for James Gordon of Cairston
- Type
- Broad crowstepped former rice warehouse incorporated into a civic complex
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB41790)
- OS grid reference
- HY 25493 09224
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The two-storey-and-attic, five-bay range has a near-symmetrical harled front beneath crowstepped gables. Deep openings, a timber forestair and adjoining warehouse forms retain its mercantile character within the larger adapted complex.
Its story
James Gordon of Cairston built the warehouse around the later seventeenth century in connection with imported American rice. It later served tourism and ferry functions. A wider regeneration project incorporated it into the Warehouse Buildings community hub, which opened in 2015.
Why it is included
Category B listing reflects an exceptional early commercial building whose repeated adaptation has kept it central to Stromness public life.
What to notice
- The exceptionally wide crowstepped warehouse front.
- The external forestair to the upper level.
- The junction between older masonry and later community-hub fabric.
Reading the surroundings
Public services operate to advertised hours. Use signed entrances and public rooms; staff, storage and police areas remain restricted even when the main building is open.
Timeline
- Circa 1675 James Gordon commissioned a warehouse for transatlantic rice trading.
- 20th century Tourist, ferry and exhibition uses adapted the former commercial building.
- 2015 The regenerated Warehouse Buildings opened as an integrated community hub.
- December 2025 The council marked ten years of library and customer services on the site.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Council history dates the warehouse to 1760, while the statutory list gives circa 1675; the discrepancy is retained rather than silently resolved.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Warehouse Buildings, 8 Victoria Street, LB41790 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Orkney Islands Council: Warehouse Buildings tenth anniversary — Current services, 2015 reopening, community role and council account of the warehouse history.
- Orkney Islands Council: Warehouse Buildings opening hours — Current public opening pattern and service list.
Location
OS grid reference HY 25493 09224 · 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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