Building record MAB23952 - TRIPLE KIRKS, ABERDEEN

Remaining sections of three adjoining Gothic post-disruption churches built in 1844, designed by Archibald Simpson, to meet the needs of three Free Church congregations, drawn from the East and West Kirks of St Nicholas and the South Church.

Remaining sections of three adjoining Gothic post-disruption churches built in 1844, designed by Archibald Simpson, to meet the needs of three Free Church congregations, drawn from the East and West Kirks of St Nicholas and the South Church. They were unique in Scotland in comprising 3 separate but adjoining churches (West, East and South) with a common steeple constructed unusual in brick. The churches were designed by local architect Archibald Simpson and built in Early Pointed Gothic style in pointed granite rubble with brick dressings. The West Free Church was demolished in the 1980s. The East Free Church was remodelled in 1900 by William Kelly and again in 1965: it closed in 1976 and was converted to commercial premises. The South Church became halls and a classroom for the East UF Church in 1890; only three exterior walls survive, along with the brick spire. Evaluation and building survey was carried out by AOC Archaeology in 2012 prior to proposed partial demolition. Three test pits were excavated within the Triple Kirks and a single trench dug in the area between the north facade and the street frontage. All of these areas contained remains of walls and/or floors, some relating to the kirk structure, others predating the existing building. Finds of ceramic, animal bone, clay pipe and iron were recovered from various deposits of the test pits. Excavation was carried out by AOC in January 2014 within the footprint of the former South Free Church prior to proposed development. In the northern part excavation recorded the remains of walls and foundations of the vestry of the South Free Church. In the southern half there were a number of walls and other features, some of which are probably associated with the churches, others probably associated with early industrial buildings which are shown on Milne's map of 1789 and John Wood's map of 1832 on which they are described as a 'Warehouse Factory'.

Period Notes
Listed 12/01/1967. East Free Church remodelled 1900 and 1965, and closed 1976.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2013, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 13, 2012, p. 11 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5487.

AOC ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, TRIPLE KIRKS EXCAVATION, ABERDEEN: DATA STRUCTURE REPORT, Excavation report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5663.

Record last edited

Sep 12 2025 2:56PM