This was part of a road trip up North in 2019 with PV, just finally got round to editing the photos and putting a report together with a few more to follow over the next few weeks.
History
Lying on the south bank of the River Dee, between Kirkton of Maryculter and Aberdeen, the land on which the seminary was built was originally owned by the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, before passing to the Menzies family in 1542. In 1827 the land was donated by John Menzies of Pitfodfels (1756-1843) to the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, and the original building, Menzies House, converted into a seminary for 25 pupils. In 1829 Lismore Seminary and Aquhorthies College were merged, then closed and the students moved to Blairs College.
A major expansion was executed from 1897 to 1902 with a new chapel by Robert Curran of Warrington and new lectures rooms and accommodation by Robert Gordon Wilson of Aberdeen. The new buildings were formally opened by Bishop Chisholm on 23 September 1903.
The college's book collection is housed in Aberdeen University Library and the archives at the Scottish Catholic Archives.
The college closed in 1986, but the chapel continues to be used as a place of worship. There is a Sunday Mass in the chapel every week at 9:30am.
Externals - A lovely view to be greeted when walking up the drive.
Main Entrance
Entrance doors to college
The rear of front entrance
Now entering the ground floor corridors
A couple of period classroom
The corridor leading to the main hall
The main hall
Stairs leading to the upper floors
Typical rooms on the upper floors
Toilets
Stairway to the top floor
A typical room on the top floor
Classrooms in the extension
Back on the ground floor and the corridor to the kitchens
I believe this is the dining hall
Holly figures tucked away in a corner of a small room
Thanks for looking
History
Lying on the south bank of the River Dee, between Kirkton of Maryculter and Aberdeen, the land on which the seminary was built was originally owned by the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, before passing to the Menzies family in 1542. In 1827 the land was donated by John Menzies of Pitfodfels (1756-1843) to the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, and the original building, Menzies House, converted into a seminary for 25 pupils. In 1829 Lismore Seminary and Aquhorthies College were merged, then closed and the students moved to Blairs College.
A major expansion was executed from 1897 to 1902 with a new chapel by Robert Curran of Warrington and new lectures rooms and accommodation by Robert Gordon Wilson of Aberdeen. The new buildings were formally opened by Bishop Chisholm on 23 September 1903.
The college's book collection is housed in Aberdeen University Library and the archives at the Scottish Catholic Archives.
The college closed in 1986, but the chapel continues to be used as a place of worship. There is a Sunday Mass in the chapel every week at 9:30am.
Externals - A lovely view to be greeted when walking up the drive.
Main Entrance
Entrance doors to college
The rear of front entrance
Now entering the ground floor corridors
A couple of period classroom
The corridor leading to the main hall
The main hall
Stairs leading to the upper floors
Typical rooms on the upper floors
Toilets
Stairway to the top floor
A typical room on the top floor
Classrooms in the extension
Back on the ground floor and the corridor to the kitchens
I believe this is the dining hall
Holly figures tucked away in a corner of a small room
Thanks for looking