Building record MAB5526 - SCALAN

Roman Catholic seminary and priest's house.

Roman Catholic seminary and priest's house. During the 18th century the Braes of Glenlivet were still sufficiently remote to shelter Catholics who remained proscribed. Founded by Bishop James Gordon, the seminary was in operation between 1717 and 1799, and 6 priests were ordained, and over 100 priests were trained here illegally. It first occupied a small cottage, but in 1746, following the Battle of Culloden, the Duke of Cumberland led a detachment of troops who burned the cottage to the ground. Scalan was subsequently rebuilt, and the site of the earlier cottage (NJ21NW0018) can still be identified to the West of the 2-storied farmhouse and attached cottages that were acquired in 1767 and converted for seminary use. The seminary is a 2-storey, irregular, West facing 4-bay house, with a single storey cottage projecting from the front right (South). There is also a ruinous building similarly sited at the North, forming a U-plan court. There is an off-centre entrance, with a plank door furnished with a local wrought-iron handle, and there are flanking buttresses. Irregular fenestration with varied glazing is used, and there are ridge and end stacks on the Tomintoul slate roof. The interior is empty, however fielded panelled doors and box beds survive, and there are stone flagged floors. The cottage is dated to the late-18th century. It is a single-storey, harl pointed rubble cottage, with a 3-bay South facing front, and a centre entrance masked by a later lean-to porch with a side entrance. There is a 2-bay extension at the East gable. Four-pane glazing is used, and there are end stacks and a corrugated asbestos roof. Bishop George Hay was consecrated at Scalan in 1769. The seminary was transferred to Aquhorthies in 1799 and then to Blairs in 1829, both of Aberdeenshire. Following the closure of the seminary in 1799, Abbe Paul MacPherson established the nearby town of Chapeltown, where a Catholic parish church was established (NJ22SW0007).

Period Notes
The farmhouse was built in the 18th century, and the seminary was in operation between 1717 and 1799. It first occupied a small cottage which was burnt in 1746. The attached cottages were acquired in 1767 and the farmhouse was converted to a seminary in 1767. It was designated on 22/02/1972, and its status was changed from a B to an A on 09/11/1987.

BN 722, 727, BN 722, 727 (Ground Photograph). SAB30403.

Apr 18 2014 , AAS-GR-14-04-121 - 127, AAS-GR-14-04-121 - 127 (Ground Photograph). SAB30899.

Jun 3 2008 , DSCN2569 - 2582, DSCN2569 - 2582 (Ground Photograph). SAB36242.

HISTORIC SCOTLAND, n.d., A SELECTION OF THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK'S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE, p.50 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4449.

Author unknown, n.d., SCALAN NEWS, No 17, 2-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1741.

Author unknown, n.d., SCALAN NEWS, no.18, p2-3, 21 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1741.

Author unknown, n.d., SCALAN NEWS, no.23, p2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1741.

Record last edited

Jan 13 2025 8:42AM