Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

HIGH STREET, TRINITY CHURCH AND HALLS (CHURCH OF SCOTLAND)LB31990

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
B
Date Added
24/05/1979
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Planning Authority
Scottish Borders
Burgh
Galashiels
NGR
NT 49050 36330
Coordinates
349050, 636330

Description

1844; enlargement and remodelling by Corson and Aitken, 1868; internal remodelling and new halls, 1928. 3-bay symmetrical basilica-plan Romanesque style church with distinctive polychrome stone work on a narrow site set back from street line. Advanced central corniced open pedimented gable with large tripartite scalloped round-headed and oculus window formation flanked by lower recessed round arched entrance bays with double panelled doors, chamfered and shafted fanlight and oculus windows above. Semi-circular arched windows to SE and NW side elevations. Snecked rock-faced blonde sandstone rubble; smooth ashlar quoins and margins. Plain rendered side elevations. Base course, red stone band courses, corniced eaves course and blocking course.

Clear leaded glazing, with coloured margins to entrance elevation, some stained glass; diagonal panelled timber doors. Piended slate roof.

INTERIOR: spacious broad nave substantially altered in 1928 to remove side galleries and reduce rear gallery; good classical mouldings; replacement oak pews and dado panelling. Large symmetrical narthex (1928) with handed stairs to gallery; oak panelling; etched glazed doors and bronze war memorials. Central carved timber pulpit built into 1904 organ by Forster and Andrews of Hull (renovated in 1928 by Ingram's of Edinburgh). Organ in good working condition and fine example of its type dominating the church interior. Some stained glass including later pair of pictorial images to chancel gifted by the children of the congregation in 1928. Glazed pendant light fittings.

HALLS AND OFFICES: 1928. Rendered pitched roof rectangular-plan halls to rear with large Venetian style gable windows and separate side access. Curved corridor behind organ recess leading to offices and vestry with plain fireplaces. Barrel-vaulted ceiling and 3-pane rooflights to main hall; 3-panel lattice leaded glass timber doors; simple cornices; tongue and groove panelled corridors with multiple coat hooks.

Statement of Special Interest

Ecclesiastical building in use as such. Trinity Church is a good example of a later 19th century Romanesque style church with fine stone detailing to the principal street elevation making a considerable contribution to its immediate surroundings. The interior, though altered, demonstrates a good decorative scheme dating to 1928.

Although based in Manchester the practice of Corson and Aitken was run by two Scottish architects, William Reid Corson had trained under the prominent Dumfries Architect Walter Newell and Robert Walker Aitken who was apprenticed to Peddie and Kinnear. Robert Aitken is thought to have been the main architect for St Ninians.

Built in 1844 at a cost of £1400 as the United Secession Church, Formerly St Columba's Church and an earlier East United Presbyterian Church. The 1867 additions are said to have included a hall, but this was presumably subsumed in the 1928 redevelopment. The 1928 halls were built on the former Darlingshaugh Burial Ground, famously the smallest cemetery in Gala, with few known internments, the last known being 1817. A union took place in 1977 between St Andrew's and St Columbas Churches to form the current St Ninians Congregation. Following a further union with St Aidan's, the name of the church was changed to trinity Church in 2007. The church now seats 540.

Separate 1st floor flat in building to courtyard to rear of halls.

References

Bibliography

C Strang, Borders and Berwick, (1994) p 198. http://www.codexgeo.co.uk/dsa/ (Dictionary of Scottish Architects). R Hall, The History of Galashiels (1898). K Cruft, Buildings of Scotland, Borders (2006) p 299. History of church notes supplied by church warden.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 29/03/2024 12:59