Rothesay United Free Church (Former)
Date 4 August 2000
Event ID 894595
Category Management
Type Site Management
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/894595
Asymmetrical 2-storey with attic, 2-bay former United Free church with projecting Flemish-style tower to right; advanced gabled bay at centre; later single storey additions to S and E. Coursed, slightly bull-faced sandstone; polished sandstone dressings. Raised base course; corniced openings at ground and 1st floors; skewed gables; corniced eaves; overhanging bracketed eaves to square-plan tower. Raised ashlar quoins; long and short surrounds to openings; chamfered cills at ground to E; projecting cills to N; stone mullions; stained glazing. Harl-pointed random rubble sandstone to sides and rear; polished dressings; harled later additions.
No longer in ecclesiastical use. An unusual building with some interesting features - note the stained glazing, the stone-mullioned glazing rows and the bell-cast square-plan tower. The original plans show an interesting interior with hammerbeam roof, extensive timber panelling and a timber pulpit.
Rothesay is one of Scotland's premier seaside resorts, developed primarily during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and incorporates an earlier medieval settlement. The town retains a wide range of buildings characteristic of its development as a high status 19th century holiday resort, including a range of fine villas, a Victorian pier and promenade.
The history and development of Rothesay is defined by two major phases. The development of the medieval town, centred on Rothesay Castle, and the later 19th and early 20th century development of the town as a seaside resort. Buildings from this later development, reflect the wealth of the town during its heyday as a tourist destination, and include a range of domestic and commercial architecture of a scale sometimes found in larger burghs. Both the 19th and early 20th century growth of the town, with a particular flourish during the inter-war period, included areas of reclaimed foreshore, particularly along the coast to the east of the town and around the pier and pleasure gardens.
(List description revised as part of Rothesay listing review 2010-11). (Historic Scotland)
