History is sparse on this building

The Architect David Barclay was employed in 1888-99 and built it to a Scottish renaissance design with gothic details.


The man behind the project was a Mr Hunter from the Hunter, Barr & Company in Glasgow
along with the late Mr. Quarrier (Quarrier Homes).
In 1871 Mr Hunter joined in the Orphan Homes of Scotland at Bridge-of-Weir, and for a long series of years that undertaking engrossed a large part of his energy and time. He had always also been deeply interested in religious and philanthropic work among seamen. For ten years from 1882 he held the office of Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Glasgow Seamen's Friend Society; and it was chiefly through his endeavours that the large Seamen's Bethel in Eaglesham Street, Govan Road, and the Seamen's Institute at the Broomielaw, were built and equipped. The cost of these institutions, which was fully paid, was over £14,000.
But the work which chiefly engaged Mr. Hunter's attention was the Sailors' Orphan Society of Scotland. While engaged in evangelical and charitable efforts among seamen, he from time to time met cases in which families, previously living in comfort, were, through the loss of their bread-winner at sea. suddenly brought to want. Along with his friends, the late Mr. Alexander Allan of the Allan Line, and Mr. George Smith of the City Line of steamers, he began in 1889 the work of the Sailors' Orphan Society. For long the undertaking was carried on in three separate establishments - a Receiving and Working Boys' Home at 2 Elmbank Street, a Girls' Home at 5 Thistle Street, and a Boys' Home in the old mansion of Mount Blow, near Dalmuir. In 1896, however, measures were taken to provide a more permanent institution. Sir Charles Cayzer, Bart., M.P., gave a sum of £10,000, and this home at Kilmacolm was built at a cost of £30,000.

It remained an orphanage to the 1930’s when there are records of it being bought by the Boys Brigade and used as a training centre.
In the war it stationed a field gun battery.
It wasn’t till the early 1960’s it was bought and converted into a List D school – an approved home/prison for school aged boys, it remained so till 1997 and has lain abandoned since.


Obligatory spire as per Scottish architecture

shiney metal

the tower of rapunzel

chemistry lab

suprised to find these almost new looking amps

and this is a wee bit older!

main hall had a nice stage with wonderful curtains

main hall doubled as a PE hall by markings and now fallen over climbing frame

just loved this door to a wee mausoleum in the grounds


and yes we have live electricity!!


careful descent down these stairs

view from tower

another view from the tower

quite a few blackboards in this place

and lovely pinhole light through the steel

I dont feel Ive done it total justice here - there are more buildings arouund the grounds but they looked like the accom buildings and the rooms were much the same as each other and very trashed.

thanks for looking