Balrossie School: Ancillary Building (Former), Kilmacolm

Scottish Renaissance orphanage with gothic details. ANCILLARY BUILDING: to W of main building. 2-storey, 4-bay ancillary block with dormers to E elevation. Rendered brick with painted brick dressings.

Built as an orphanage by the Sailors´ Orphans Society of Scotland. This was the first orphanage to be built by the society, and previous to its completion the society had housed its orphans in rented accommodation. Money for the building was donated by ´several donors´, including one anonymous benefactor who gave £3500: the deliberately obscure inscriptions on the Girls´ Villa and garden building are probably the monogram of this person. The architect of the building is given in the Glasgow Advertiser article as H and D Barclay, but as Hugh Barclay died in 1892, this is probably the sole work of his younger brother David. The Barclay brothers specialised in school design, and were responsible for a large number of schools in and around Glasgow, including Glasgow Academy; their most prominent building, however, was Greenock Municipal Buildings.

The orphanage was designed to house 82 boys and 32 girls. The principle building contained accommodation for 50 boys in the left wing and 32 boys in the right wing, each wing forming a separate house with its own dormitories, dining room, playshed and other accommodation. The central tower contained administrative offices, with stores on the ground floor and a water tank at the top. The large gabled section that runs through the centre of the block contained a large hall for assemblies, services, teaching, and other similar activities. Girls were housed separately in the villa to the North of the main building.

The exact purpose of the ornamental square building in the garden is unknown. It appears from the stonework that the roof of this building has been raised at some point. (Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)

The site is understood to have been purchased by Glasgow Corporation in 1962 and converted for use as a residential care home (The Herald) for children.

22 July 2004: The Herald reports that the school is vacant and is being offered for sale by Inverclyde Council. Originally built as a home for the orphans of sailors, the building was purchased by Glasgow Corporation in 1962 and was converted into a residential school. The building has now lain vacant for about 8 years. The school lies within the greenbelt and development is therefore restricted to that which meets rural, agricultural, forestry or leisure needs. However, Inverclyde Council will consider any proposal which complies with the issued development brief and is willing to accept a residential development of up to 40 units through the conversion of existing buildings and a small new build element. The building is currently proposed for listing. 3 August 2004: The Greenock Telegraph reports on the building. 11 August 2004: The Paisley Gazette reports on the building. 24 April 2005: The Herald carries notice that the school is being marketed for sale as a development opportunity.

The property is being marketed for sale by Knight Frank, along with the Main Building, Annexe Building, Water Tower and surrounding land at a guide price of £2 million.

April 2008: Planning permission was granted in Sept 2006 for conversion to residential use with erection of dwellinghouses in an enabling development scheme. No works have started to date. Appl ref: IC/06/315.

December 2008: External inspection finds the building vacant and boarded up. Some windows are boarded over, others have smashed panes. Door on the rear elevation have been lost and the building is unsecured. Gutters are blocked with vegetation and some slates have slipped from the roof.

April 2009: A member of the public reports that the building remains boarded up with broken windows and clear damage.

4 December 2012: A member of the public draws attention to a new application being sought for the site. Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for restoration and conversion of the former childrens' home into residential use and for the establishment of the principle of enabling development (new build) within the grounds ref: 12/0252/IC & 12/0022/LB & 12/0254/IC. This building is proposed for demolition. The site is currently being marketed for sale, on instructions of the joint administrators of GWM Balrossie Limited, through agent Lambert Smith Hampton.

13 August 2014: External inspection finds the building remains in much the same condition as seen previously and has been generally secured.

24 March 2015: Listed Building Consent for redevelopment and conversion to residential use of the former school site was conditionally granted Feb 2015 ref: 12/0022/LB. The former school remains under marketing for sale or lease through agents Lambert Smith Hampton.

10 December 2021: Currently being marketed for sale through Knight Frank. Accepting offers over £3 million.

13 January 2023: Property continues to be marketed for sale through Knight Frank agents.

6 July 2023: Property continues to be marketed for sale through Knight Frank agents.

5 February 2024: Property remains under marketing for sale. Guide price reduced to £2,000,000.